In a potentially seismic shift for the Big 12 coaching landscape, sources tell ESPN that West Virginia University is finalizing a lucrative three-year deal to bring in Zac Alley, Oklahoma’s rising star defensive coordinator, to take over the same role in Morgantown. The move would reunite the 31-year-old coaching phenom with WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez, marking their third time working together.
A Proven Coaching Connection
Before his lone season at Oklahoma, Alley spent two years as defensive coordinator under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State, where they quickly transformed the Gamecocks into an FCS powerhouse. Their connection runs even deeper, as Alley first served as the nation’s youngest DC at just 28 years old during Rodriguez’s stint as offensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe.
Investing in Defensive Excellence
Per sources, WVU’s deal for Alley is expected to put him among the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the Big 12, a clear sign of their commitment to building an elite defense under Rodriguez. The significant financial investment gives the Mountaineers flexibility to assemble a top-tier staff around their new head coach.
With Coach Rod calling the shots on offense, landing a marquee defensive coordinator was always going to be our top priority. Zac is a rising superstar in this business and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring him home to West Virginia.
– WVU Athletic Director
Alley’s Meteoric Rise Continues
In his lone season at Oklahoma, Alley’s defense ranked 31st nationally in total defense and 5th in the always-rugged SEC. His 2023 unit at Jacksonville State was equally impressive, finishing 33rd in scoring defense while allowing just 21.2 points per game. Now he’s poised to take his aggressive scheme to the Big 12.
- 2019-20: Special teams coordinator & OLBs coach at Boise State under Bryan Harsin
- 2021: Youngest FBS defensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe at age 28
- 2022-23: Defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State under Rich Rodriguez
- 2024: Defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, ranking 31st in total defense
The Rich Rod Effect
There’s no denying Rodriguez’s influence on Alley’s skyrocketing career trajectory. The two have formed a potent coach-coordinator duo at multiple stops, with Alley’s attacking 4-2-5 scheme perfectly complementing Rodriguez’s up-tempo spread offense. Mountaineer Nation is hoping that connection pays major dividends in the Big 12.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without Coach Rod. He’s been a mentor to me since I first started coaching. The opportunity to work with him again, especially at a place like West Virginia…it’s a dream come true.
– Zac Alley on reuniting with Rich Rodriguez
Bringing the ‘Havoc’ to Morgantown
Known for his hyper-aggressive “Havoc Defense,” Alley’s system is predicated on forcing turnovers, racking up negative plays, and putting constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His defenses have consistently excelled at generating sacks, tackles for loss, and takeaways, a style that should have WVU fans salivating.
If the deal gets finalized as expected, Alley will take over a West Virginia defense that ranked 80th nationally in total defense last season. While there’s clearly work to be done, his track record suggests a quick turnaround is possible with the Mountaineers’ current talent.
A New Era in Morgantown
Landing Alley would be a massive coup for Rodriguez as he aims to return West Virginia to Big 12 title contention. With an innovative offensive mind joining forces with one of college football’s hottest young defensive coaches, the Mountaineers appear poised to make some serious noise in the coming years.
As one source close to the program put it: “With Coach Rod and Zac leading the way, the sky’s the limit for Mountaineer football. It’s a new era in Morgantown, and we couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds.”
