Tag: Kane Wommack

Where do Alabama assistants rank in USA TODAY Sports assistant coach salaries database?

Where do Alabama’s assistants rank?

When it comes to a complete coaching staff, it is much more than whoever is leading the program as the head coach. For elite programs, you have to have a talented staff of assistants who can both recruit and develop players, and well, that is exactly what the Alabama Crimson Tide have.

However, have you ever wondered just where each Alabama assistant ranks among the highest-paid in college football?

USA TODAY Sports released their annual database of salaries for assistant coaches in college football Wednesday morning, which provided a look into answering that question.

As of the 2024 season, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is the highest-paid assistant on the Alabama staff at $1.55 million, followed by offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan at $1.35 million.

Wommack is the No. 19 highest-paid assistant coach in college football, exactly one spot ahead of former Alabama assistant and current Georgia Bulldogs Co-DC/safeties coach Travaris Robinson, while Sheridan ranks No. 35. Another notable name that ranks highly is former Alabama DC Pete Golding, who currently sits No. 4 at $2.15 million in the same role at Ole Miss.

The remainder of Alabama assistants salaries according to the USA TODAY Sports database are as follows:

Alabama Crimson Tide Assistant Coach Salaries according to USA TODAY Sports database

  • Kane Wommack (DC) – $1.55 million – No. 19 nationally
  • Nick Sheridan (OC) – $1.35 million – No. 35 nationally
  • JaMarcus Shephard (WR) – $1.1 million – No. 59 nationally
  • Freddie Roach (DL) – $1 million – No. 74 nationally
  • Chris Kapilovic (OL) – $875,000 – No. 102 nationally
  • Maurice Linguist (DB) – $875,000 – No. 103 nationally
  • Robert Gillespie (RB) – $850,000 – No. 115 nationally
  • Colin Hitschler (DB) – $675,000 – No. 177 nationally
  • Christian Robinson (OLB) – $650,000 – No. 192 nationally
  • Bryan Ellis (TE) – $550,000 – No. 253 nationally

In addition to that group, Alabama also has the second-highest paid strength coach in college football in David Ballou at $950,000.

In all, Alabama’s assistant coach salaries according to the database sit at a total of $9,475,000, which is not far behind Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer is currently the No. 7 highest-paid head coach in college football at $10 million.

Everything Alabama DC Kane Wommack said about Auburn’s offense

The Alabama DC commented on Auburn’s offense Monday afternoon.

On Monday afternoon, Iron Bowl week officially began for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as head coach Kalen DeBoer, as well as coordinators Nick Sheridan and Kane Wommack, took to the podium to preview the looming showdown with the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.

In this, each gave their thoughts on Auburn, while also taking a look back at some of the things that went wrong this past Saturday against Oklahoma.

Taking a look at Wommack in particular, here is everything that the Alabama defensive coordinator said about Auburn’s offense on Monday:

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comments on Auburn Tigers

“Very impressed with Auburn, and the way that they are playing right now,” Wommack said. “Obviously, my background, I have know Hugh Freeze for a long time, and have known a number of people on that staff, and think that they have done a really good job of getting their guys to continue to play at a really physical level, and they are playing really hard, and I thought those things showed up the other night against Texas A&M. Like everyone in the SEC, there has been some ups-and-downs, and it’s about fighting and finding a way to finish, and they are certainly doing that right now.”

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comments on Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter

“From a run game standpoint, they present a number of challenges for you,” Wommack said. “I think Jarquez Hunter is a phenomenal back, as tough of a back as we have seen. Creates a lot of yards after contact. Does a really good job of finding ways of being patient to create explosive plays in the run game. You’ve got some one-plus style offense with the quarterback, and then guys on the perimeter that can make explosive plays downfield, so we’ll have our work cut out for us, and am looking forward to the challenge, and excited to go play in a great rivalry game.”

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comments on Hugh Freeze’s offense

“I think like any good coordinator, he has found ways over the years to adjust to his personnel,” Wommack said. “I think that’s the challenge for everybody as you move to the end of the season, identifying what you do well as a team, but also what wrinkles you have to have. You’ve got to constantly be mixing and changing things in the SEC, and I think he’s done a really nice job of that the last couple of weeks. They are committed to running the football, and they are committed to creating explosive plays in their passing game downfield, and those are the things I think would be the staple of who he’s been over the years, and he’s done that a number of different ways and facets with different quarterbacks and offensive skill players. Ultimately, I think they do a great job of finding ways to establish a run, and then using that run game to create explosive plays downfield in the play-action game as well. RPO’s are certainly a piece of what they do, it always has been, and so they make you defend the lateral space out of their run game as well.”

Everything Alabama DC Kane Wommack said about facing Oklahoma’s offense

The Alabama DC commented on the Sooners offense Monday.

Throughout the 2024 college football season, the Oklahoma Sooners offense has likely been one of the more disappointing in the SEC.

Averaging only 25.1 PPG, Oklahoma ranks No. 15 in the SEC when it comes to scoring, as well as last in the conference in total yards per game, sitting at an average of 326.8.

However, this is still a dangerous team for the Alabama Crimson Tide due to their talent on the defensive side of the ball, as well as through the fact that they could give the Crimson Tide different looks offensively by using two different quarterbacks in Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr..

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was also asked about the Sooners offense in particular during his press conference Monday afternoon, as well as what the Crimson Tide could do against Oklahoma.

Here is everything that Wommack said about Oklahoma’s offense Monday:

Kane Wommack’s comments on Oklahoma Sooners offense

“Going into this week, this is certainly an exciting environment that we’re going in to play in Norman, Oklahoma,” Wommack said. “A very proud program who’s entering the SEC this year, and is going to fight. They’ve had some ups-and-downs, but I think they’ve fought really hard as a football team, and they’ve got a quarterback that to me is very talented, can make all the throws, and does some things with his feet that has kept them in a position to move the chains. He does a really good job in some of their zone-read game and all of the different quarterback option concepts that they have. Does a nice job delivering the ball. Can make all the throws across the board. I think they run the ball hard out of the backfield, and then they’ve got some guys that are coming back in their wide receiver corps that are pretty dynamic, and when they were healthy at the beginning of the year, they were doing some really special things, and you’re starting to see those guys back and playing now. It’ll be a great challenge for us again going on the road. Certainly what we were able to do the last time on the road, I think our players have understood what it takes to go have a sense of urgency to go play well on the road, so that needs to show up this Saturday night. Looking forward to the week of preparation, and to prepare our guys to maximize their opportunity in Norman.”

Kane Wommack comments on Oklahoma using both quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Michael Hawkins Jr.

“Every single week, if you’re doing your due-diligence as a defensive staff, you go, what is this team’s identity, what do they want to get done from the quarterback position, and who do they want to feature from a skill position standpoint, and then if they have another quarterback that comes into the game, what are your answers going to be,” Wommack said. “You’re either working those things and maximizing your opportunities if that happens, or you don’t, so that’s something that every single week we’re going to look at and try to do. I do think there are a lot of similarities in what they ask those guys to do. Skill-set wise, there might be some nuances there, but for us, I don’t know if it is completely different from one guy to the next in terms of what they were asking those guys to do schematically. It’ll be a challenge though. I think this team, when you’re playing a night game in your home stadium against Alabama, we’re going to get every bit of their best effort. Regardless of who you’re playing.”

Alabama DC Kane Wommack speaks on potential replacements for Que Robinson

Alabama DC Kane Wommack comments on the Que Robinson injury, and lists two names that could step up in his place.

On Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost Que Robinson, one of their top pass rushers, to injury for the remainder of the 2024 season.

A starter for the Crimson Tide at outside linebacker, Robinson was one of Alabama’s top pass rushers this season. He was tied for the team lead with four sacks. Robinson was in the midst of a career year: 23 tackles, seven TFL, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack commented on the injury as part of his Monday afternoon press conference:

“Que, he’s done a tremendous job this season, and unfortunately will not be with us for the rest of the year,” Wommack said. “That’s a hard thing to go through as a player, and that is certainly hard on us a team. When you have a guy that’s been so productive for us, he’s a leader for us. I’ve been so impressed with Que and his level of urgency every single day, the leadership, and demanding presence in terms of holding the standard that I think he really has brought to some of our younger players and younger guys in that room. He’ll still have to continue some of those roles of being a great leader, he’s just going to have to do it from an off-the-field role.”

Wommack addressed how Alabama will try to replace Robinson:

“We’ll have to continue to step up and move on without him,” Wommack said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in some of our younger players that I think have stepped up in that position already. Qua Russaw, and Yhonzae Pierre is doing a really good job, and am starting to get more out of him. Those guys are excited for the challenge of next man up mentality, and when you look in, as the season goes on, these are the defining moments. Do players step up in the moment when they’re needed, and ultimately that will determine our success here in the back end of the season.”

Another option Alabama and Wommack could use is inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell off the edge, which is a position he saw time at in high school.

“We’re doing those things with Jihaad already as a pass rusher, and some sub-package things,” Wommack said. “He’s such a difference maker wherever you put him on the field, and you want to find creative ways to get him one-on-one matchups from a pass rush standpoint. There’s things that we can do from a standpoint of if we show him as a defensive end, and then drop him into coverage, then there’s different things scheme-wise we can do from that perspective. Certainly in terms of giving us pass rush, I think that is a piece of his game, and that is what to me makes him such a well-rounded player. You can play him as an inside backer, an outside backer, or a rush edge. That dude’s playing four different positions for us right now, and is able to hold a lot of volume in terms of what we ask him to do. Jihaad’s playing at a really high level, and we’re going to utilize him any way we can.”

Yes, the loss of Robinson is a big one for Alabama’s defense. However, the Crimson Tide have multiple depth options that could play key roles in withstanding injuries at outside linebacker.

Everything Alabama DC Kane Wommack said about LSU entering Week 11

Alabama DC Kane Wommack shared his thoughts on LSU’s offense.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack took to the podium Monday afternoon to preview the upcoming Week 11 game against the LSU Tigers.

In this press conference, Wommack was also asked multiple questions about the Tigers high-powered offense, with the Alabama defensive coordinator giving some of his thoughts on the LSU position group.

Here is everything that Wommack said about LSU during his Monday press conference, which included an overview of the Tigers offense, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, and more:

LSU Tigers Offensive Overview

“This is a very explosive football team,” Wommack said. “A lot of athletes that are on the field. Coach Kelly is obviously, his resume speaks for itself with the success he’s had at multiple places, and the way he manages his football team. I have a lot of respect for Joe Sloan, their offensive coordinator, I’ve known for a number of years, and he’s really done a great job wherever he’s been. Frank Wilson was my position coach at one time in college, and a number of guys on their offensive staff that I think do a really good job.”

LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier

“From an offensive standpoint, I think you can talk about the quarterback all day long,” Wommack said. “I think Nussmeier, he’s a coaches kid, and you can tell he’s been very well trained, know’s where to go with the ball, has great answers, and is probably to me up there with the Carson Beck’s of the world in terms of his ability to see the field and make great decisions. He’s as good as we’ve seen this year. Aggressive with the ball. I know sometimes that has gotten him in trouble, but it’s also created a lot of explosive plays that they have been able to make because he’s aggressive, and certainly he’s got players on the perimeter and in their tight end room that will go up and get the football. Even if guys are covered, he’s going to throw the ball so we’re going to have to make plays in contested catches, and do a great job against an explosive team with a great quarterback, an awesome system, and one of the best environments in college football. It’ll be a great challenge for us, one that our players are certainly looking forward to on Saturday.”

LSU Tigers wide receiver Kyren Lacy

“I remember Kyren when he was in the Sun Belt playing at Louisiana my first year as the head coach at South Alabama,” Wommack said. “I think he transferred the year after in 2022. Long, physical presence who does a great job with the ball in the air. I think he makes contested catches. I think he’s grown so much as a route-runner, and is someone that you can tell Nussmeier really trusts to get the ball to, even in situations where he’s got body-on-body to go make a play for him. Very impressed with his skill-set, and he’s got all the tools. Can run, and make contested catches. The makings of a great receiver.”

LSU Tigers offensive line and their struggles in Texas A&M Aggies loss

“I think A&M, they do a great job on defense, schematically they’re really good, and their personnel up front is as good as I’ve seen,” Wommack said. “Those guys do a really good job in one-on-one matchups, and I thought they did a great job of finding and creating one-on-one matchups based off of how they situated their personnel, and were able to win a number of one-on-one’s, so that’ll be the challenge for us. I thought they did some really good things that you can look at, and say how does that fit what we do and kind of build off it from there. You kind of take little pieces from everybody. Ole Miss played them really well for the vast majority of the game, and just couldn’t seem to get off the field at the end. Having both personnel groupings based off the groupings they have on the field. They’ve got a lot of different things they do on the field based on their personnel with 12 and different tight end groupings that come on the field, and also things from a scheme standpoint to be able to have answers against a very prolific offense I think is going to be critical at the end.”

LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor

“I think he’s as good a tight end as we have seen this year,” Wommack said. “You can tell their quarterback trusts him, and another guy when the game is on the line, he continues to show up in those big moments. He will make contested catches, even being body-on-body, the guy can make those contested-type throw-and-catch, which is ultimately what is hard about covering a tight end. You’ve got some 6-foot-6 guy that you’re covering with a linebacker or defensive back that ultimately, a good quarterback is going to throw away from leverage, and he’s going to be able to come down with the ball. I think the dude takes pride obviously in not coming off the field, you can tell that’s kind of thing that they’re constantly keeping him on the field and having different groupings and packages around him. When you have a good tight end that can do things in the run game well enough, and then by dynamic in the passing game, that’s why those guys are so valuable in the professional league right now because they’re rare, but they’re really hard to defend for a number of reasons, so we’ll have our work cut out for us.”

Alabama and LSU will officially meet Saturday night in Baton Rouge for what is considered an elimination game for the College Football Playoff.

The Crimson Tide’s defense will likely be key as well to Alabama’s potential success against one of the top offenses in the SEC.

Two Alabama coaches tabbed as candidates for Southern Miss HC opening per On3

On3 tabs Alabama DC and DL coaches as potential candidates for Southern Miss head coaching job.

We are through eight weeks of the 2024 college football season, and the coaching carousel is just starting to turn as both Eastern Carolina and Southern Mississippi relieved their head coaches of their respective duties this past week following losses.

The positions likely will not be filled until the season is over, or at least for a few more weeks, but it’s never too early to speculate who will take over the vacancies. Pete Nakos of On3 Sports projects Alabama Crimson Tide DC Kane Wommack to be a candidate to replace Will Hall at Southern Miss saying,

“After putting together an impressive game plan to beat Georgia, the Tide jumped out to a 28-0 lead before allowing 27 second-half points. Alabama escaped that game 41-34. The next week Alabama lost at Vanderbilt and gave up 40 points, angering fans. Could Southern Miss be his exit? Wommack’s father, Dave, spent six years at Southern Miss as a defensive coordinator and assistant. Kane Wommack was 22-16 in three seasons at South Alabama.”

Personally, I would be surprised to see Wommack leave Alabama after just one year, especially with much left to prove. However, it is just a matter of time until he gets another head coaching gig.

Nakos also listed the Crimson Tide defensive line coach Freddie Roach as a potential candidate saying,

“The former Alabama linebacker, Freddie Roach has spent time as an assistant at East Mississippi Community College and Ole Miss. The 41-year-old defensive line coach returned to Tuscaloosa in 2020 for his third stint working on Nick Saban’s staff and is now with DeBoer.”

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Alabama DC Kane Wommack praises senior defensive back Malachi Moore

Malachi Moore has quickly impressed the new coaching staff in Tuscaloosa

Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama football held its second spring practice on Wednesday afternoon. You can already see and feel the difference in Coach DeBoer’s practices compared to what Tide fans were used to under the great Nick Saban.

One glaring difference is the media availability with the assistant coaches. Under Coach Saban, the assistant coaches only spoke to the media two to three times a year, this isn’t the case with Coach DeBoer.

Following Wednesday’s practice defensive coordinator [autotag]Kane Wommack[/autotag] met with the media and fielded questions from the local reporters.

One question that was asked was about senior defensive back [autotag]Malachi Moore[/autotag]. Coach Wommack offered up a glaring review of the Alabama native.

“Malachi Moore is an unbelievable professional. He carries himself with the body language and a demeanor that every coach wants to work with and wants to compete with every single day. He has a hunger to get better. He’s not satisfied with where he is, and he’s done a tremendous job as a football player. We’re really excited about what he’ll bring from a leadership standpoint, especially with these young defensive backs that are very talented, but they need that leadership and they need that experience to be able to win the play.”

Moore has quickly impressed the new coaching staff in Tuscaloosa and will play a large role not only on the field but in a leadership role this season for the Tide.

In his career, Moore has seen action in 53 games collecting a total of 143 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and five interceptions.

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Alabama football officially unveils Kane Wommack as defensive coordinator

Alabama football officially unveils new DC on X

It has only been 40 days since [autotag]Kalen DeBoer[/autotag] accepted the position as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, but it feels like a lifetime has passed. From the initial shock of [autotag]Nick Saban’s[/autotag] retirement to the coaching search to hiring DeBoer to the transfer portal, there have been so many changes and moving parts to the football program. Now, with the dust settled, I think we can all sit back and agree that things turned out nearly as well as they possibly could have considering the loss of the greatest coach of all time.

On top of having to retain and fill out a roster, DeBoer has had to essentially build a brand new staff in Tuscaloosa. It initially appeared as if OC Ryan Grubb would be joining DeBoer in Tuscaloosa, however, he ended up as OC of the Seattle Seahawks.

On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama football officially unveiled [autotag]Kane Wommack[/autotag] as the defensive coordinator on X. Wommack has spent the past three season as the head coach of South Alabama where he posted a record of 22-16. Personally, I think it is an outstanding fit for the Tide and it certainly helps to have someone who’s spent time in the state. As well as being the DC, Wommack will also serve as the Linebackers coach.

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LSU’s Cortez Hankton listed as potential candidate for South Alabama job

Cortez Hankton was in the mix for the South Alabama job in 2022. Could he be again?

Nick Saban’s retirement has caused a ripple effect across the sport with the coaching carousel getting moving again.

One of those shifts came at South Alabama with Jaguars’ head coach Kane Wommack taking the defensive coordinator job at Alabama.

According to The Athletic’s Chris Vannini, LSU receivers coach and passing game coordinator [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag] could be in the mix just as he was the last time this job came open.

Hankton joined LSU in 2022 after winning a national title at UGA. He’s continued to impress in Baton Rouge, developing [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] into potential first-round picks and serving as co-offensive coordinator in LSU’s bowl win against Wisconsin.

LSU’s yet to announce its next move at OC, but it’s assumed Hankton is in contention for the permanent job.

Hankton heading to South Alabama is probably unlikely, and several South Alabama players have started to push for Jaguars’ OC Major Applewhite to get a promotion.

But it’s worth keeping an eye on in the meantime.

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Wommack, son of ex-Arkansas defensive coordinator, to take over as Alabama DC

Kane Wommack sound familiar? He was the son of former Arkansas DC Dave Wommack and is becoming the new Alabama defensive coordinator.

Kane Wommack, who has led the South Alabama football program for the last three seasons, recently resigned his post and is set to become the Alabama defensive coordinator.

Wommack, 36, is the son of former Arkansas defensive coordinator Dave Wommack, and actually graduated from Fayetteville High School in 2005 and lettered for the Razorbacks during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

He then transferred to Southern Mississippi where his father was the linebackers coach at the time and finished out his college career there before following in his father’s footsteps and getting into coaching.

Newly hired Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer previously served with Wommack on the Indiana staff in 2019, as DeBoer was the offensive coordinator and Wommack was the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator under Tom Allen.

Wommack led South Alabama to a major upset of Oklahoma State in Stillwater last season, defeating the Cowboys 33-7.