OU’s Zac Alley joins Rich Rodriguez’s West Virginia staff as defensive coordinator

The Associated Press - December 30, 2024 11:45 am

FILE - Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley, left, and head coach Brent Venables, right, watch their team play against Tennessee during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Sept. 21, 2024, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is being reunited with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia.

Rodriguez, who was hired for his second stint as West Virginia’s coach on December 12th, announced on Sunday that he hired the 31-year-old Alley as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

“Zac is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the country and has proven his ability to lead and be an innovator at different stops during his career,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I have worked with him several seasons, and he constantly impresses me with his ability to blend schemes with his personnel and develop winning results.”

Under Rodriguez, Alley spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State. Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Bowl Subdivision at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021 when Rodriguez was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator.

In Alley’s lone season at Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in total defense, allowing 318 yards per game.

“I have tremendous respect for Coach Rod, as I’ve seen how he develops players and builds a program,” Alley said. “I look forward to working with the players and doing my part to help WVU be one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference and the nation.”

Alley worked under Oklahoma coach Brent Venables as a graduate assistant at Clemson from 2015 to 2018 when Venables was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach there.

 

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