When Kalen DeBoer was looking for his new Alabama defensive coordinator, he didn’t have to look out of state. He had worked with South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack at Indiana in 2019, and his old friend was agreeable to joining the staff in Tuscaloosa.

UA Athletics director Greg Byrne noted how important it was for DeBoer, who didn’t have much experience in the south, to find staffers who could help in that area. Wommack was that, with stops at Ole Miss, Jacksonville State and Tennessee-Martin in addition to South Alabama.

According to DeBoer, who spoke to reporters Wednesday at the Senior Bowl, the southern experience wasn’t the only reason for the hire.

“I just know he’s really good,” DeBoer said. “I saw him every single day in practice there in 2019, going against him and I think he’s just continued to take those steps forward, the year after I left and him being a head coach and especially understanding everything down here in Alabama, the state. I know he’s a relationship guy and so, he just brings a lot of energy and organizational skills that I know are going to be really important for our program.”

The relationship element was one that former South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley also emphasized. The QB first met Wommack when he decided to transfer away from Toledo after the 2021 season.

He thoroughly enjoyed playing for Wommack, along with current Jaguars head coach and former offensive coordinator Major Applewhite.

“He understands what we kind of go through,” Bradley said. “He understands the practice schedules and the meeting and stuff like that, but also balancing school. So he’s been unbelievable. I just can’t thank him enough for giving me an opportunity to come here at South and be as successful as I was.”

Bradley described Wommack as a “grinder.” The coach would sit in on offensive meetings and occasionally share his defensive perspective.

He said the defensive scheme the coach ran made for difficult situations in practice.

“You’re going to have landmarks as a zone-dropping team, but for him, it’s more vision drop,” Bradley said. “You’re going to play off the quarterback’s eyes, which is tough, because a lot of guys at the college level can’t use their eyes as well as they want, so guys kind of flow or melt to where their eyes are going and turnovers happen, breakups happen.”

Bradley predicted the move to Alabama will work out just fine for Wommack.

“He’s going to make other excited about the day, excited about going to practice,” Bradley said. “Whether you’re in the building or out of the building, he’s always gonna bring the juice.”