The West Virginia football program is in the midst of a transition period under new head coach Rich Rodriguez. As Rodriguez begins to assemble his staff, rumors are swirling about a potential key hire: Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley.
While Rodriguez hasn’t publicly disclosed his preferred defensive scheme, his past success with the 3-3-5 defense at West Virginia suggests that he may lean towards a similar system. This could make Alley, who has a strong background in defensive coaching, an attractive candidate for the defensive coordinator position.
Alley’s coaching trajectory has been nothing short of impressive. After cutting his teeth as a graduate assistant at Clemson under the tutelage of Dabo Swinney and Brent Venables, he landed a position as inside linebackers coach at Boise State. This provided him with valuable experience at a high level of college football.
Alley’s career took a significant leap forward when he was appointed defensive coordinator at the University of Louisiana-Monroe at the remarkably young age of 27. This appointment made him the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS at the time. It was during his tenure at ULM that Alley first crossed paths with Rich Rodriguez, who served as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Rodriguez was highly impressed by Alley’s coaching acumen and his ability to scheme a defense. This led to an invitation to join Rodriguez’s staff at Jacksonville State, where Alley continued to excel. Under his guidance, the Gamecocks’ defense made significant strides, ranking 33rd nationally in scoring defense and 43rd in total defense. Alley’s units were particularly effective against the run, while also generating a significant amount of turnovers, ranking 13th nationally in sacks per game.
Alley’s defensive philosophy aligns well with Rodriguez’s preferred style of play. He emphasizes a fast, physical, and aggressive approach, while incorporating innovative schemes and pre-snap movement to disrupt opposing offenses. This emphasis on creating confusion and forcing turnovers could be a valuable asset for the West Virginia defense.
While these are merely speculations at this point, the rumors surrounding Alley’s potential move to West Virginia are gaining traction. Rumors seem to indicate that Alley is Rodriguez’s top choice to lead the Mountaineers’ defense. An official announcement could be imminent, potentially following Oklahoma’s game against Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.
If Alley’s appointment does not materialize, are rumors are also suggesting that Jeremiah Johnson, the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech, is a potential backup option.
Oklahoma closes its 2024 season on Friday with the Armed Forces Bowl in Ft. Worth. It doesn’t seem like we are going to have to wait much longer to find out if the rumors hold true or fall apart.
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