Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has emerged as one of college football’s most impressive assistant coaches, earning a spot as a Broyles Award semifinalist in just his second season in Tuscaloosa.
The Broyles award is an annual award given to the nation’s top assistant coach at the end of each season.
After a rocky start and early criticism, Wommack has transformed Alabama’s defense into one of the nation’s elite units, anchoring the team’s playoff hopes and national resurgence.
Before joining Alabama as the defensive coordinator, Wommack was the head coach and defensive play caller for the South Alabama Jaguars. In 2023, he led the Jaguars to be ranked the 29th-ranked team defense in the country. Despite an impressive season at a non-Power Five school, this showing was not what led to Wommack becoming Alabama’s defensive coordinator the following year.
Current Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and Wommack have coached together before. Wommack was the defensive coordinator for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2019, and DeBoer was the offensive coordinator on the same staff.
When first taking the job at Alabama, Wommack said of DeBoer, “He is one of my closest friends in the business. I trust him as much as I do anybody in this profession.”
With that background in mind, this season brought new challenges and expectations for Wommack. Few expected him to be in contention for the Broyles Award. After Alabama’s Week 1 loss against Florida State, he faced intense criticism from former players and the media.
Bama Hammer writer John Mitchell wrote that “Kane Wommack’s seat is hotter than Kalen DeBoer’s seat” and that “he coached timidly.”
Since then, Wommack has schemed the defense in record-setting fashion. In its recent game against Eastern Illinois, the Crimson Tide held the Panthers to just 34 total yards, the fourth fewest yards allowed in a game in program history.
“The defense is a reason Alabama should make the College Football Playoff and advance in the College Football Playoff,” Alabama team expert Jimmy Stein said. “This is the best defense Alabama has had in nearly 10 years.”
Wommack’s group ranks No. 12 in both opponent points per game and opponent yards per game. The red zone defense has been the biggest standout so far: Alabama’s red zone scoring percentage ranks eighth in the country.
All season, Alabama’s defense has repeatedly stepped up when the offense has struggled. In South Carolina, the defense scored on a pick-six and forced a fumble on the Gamecocks’ final drive, setting up a crucial touchdown for the offense.
Against Tennessee, just before halftime, the Volunteers were threatening to cut the lead to 16-14. Defensive back Zabien Brown intercepted Joey Aguilar and returned it for a touchdown, swinging the momentum and giving Alabama a 23-7 lead at the half.
On the road against Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama’s defense made another critical stand. With 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Georgia was eight yards from the end zone and facing fourth-and-1. Defensive lineman LT Overton stuffed the play, turning the ball over to the offense.
Wommack’s work this season has been nothing short of outstanding. Under his guidance, Alabama’s defense has consistently delivered and become one of the nation’s elite units. Whether or not he wins the Broyles Award, Wommack’s impact on this team is undeniable, and the story of Alabama’s season can’t be told without him.
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