MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Zac Alley, who has been serving as Oklahoma’s co-defensive coordinator, is set to join Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia in an exciting new chapter for both coaches. Rodriguez, who recently returned to West Virginia for a second term as head coach, officially appointed Alley as the team’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach this past Sunday.
Rodriguez praised Alley, highlighting his recognition as one of the premier young defensive minds in football today. “Zac has consistently proven his skill in leadership and innovation throughout various roles in his career,” Rodriguez noted in his statement. “Having collaborated with him for several seasons, I continue to be impressed by his capability to integrate tactics with the strengths of his players, yielding successful outcomes.”
Alley spent the last two seasons (2022 and 2023) as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State, where he made a significant impact. His remarkable ascent began in 2021, when he became the youngest defensive coordinator in the Bowl Subdivision at Louisiana-Monroe, while Rodriguez was leading the Warhawks as their offensive coordinator.
During his time at Oklahoma, Alley contributed to a defense that performed notably well, ranking fifth in the Southeastern Conference by allowing just 318 yards per game. Alley expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to work alongside Rodriguez, saying, “I hold great respect for Coach Rod; witnessing how he cultivates talent and constructs a program has been inspiring. I am eager to collaborate with the athletes and play a role in transforming WVU into one of the finest teams in the Big 12 and nationally.”
Additionally, Alley has experience working under Brent Venables at Clemson, where he was a graduate assistant from 2015 to 2018 during Venables’ tenure as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. This diverse experience prepares Alley for his new role at West Virginia, where expectations are high as the football program aims for excellence in upcoming seasons.
