South Alabama is elevating Paul Petrino to offensive coordinator, a source confirmed to AL.com.

Petrino will continue to coach wide receivers for the Jaguars as he did in 2024. As coordinator, he replaces Rob Ezell, who left last week for a job at Wake Forest.

The 57-year-old Petrino has also been offensive coordinator at Louisville, Arkansas, Illinois and Central Michigan, coaching under older brother Bobby Petrino at the first two of those stops. He was head coach at Idaho from 2013-21, where he won Sun Belt Coach of the Year honors in 2016.

Head coach Major Applewhite — the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2021-23 — will re-assume quarterback coaching responsibilities, AL.com has learned. Analyst Doug Ruse and another analyst yet to be officially hired will also assist in coaching quarterbacks.

South Alabama also has openings for defensive line and running backs coaches that should be filled in the next several days. Defensive line coach Jonathan Bradley left for Kennesaw State, while running backs coach Effrem Reed joined Ezell at Wake Forest.

South Alabama went 7-6 in 2024, beating Western Michigan in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.