South Alabama offensive coordinator Rob Ezell is leaving to take a similar position at Wake Forest, head coach Major Applewhite confirmed to AL.com.

Ezell has been on the Jaguars’ staff since 2021, working as tight ends coach for three seasons before moving up to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this past season when Applewhite took over as head coach. South Alabama was among the top offensive teams in the Sun Belt Conference in 2024, averaging 34.4 points and 441.8 yards per game.

“I’m happy for Rob and his family and his opportunity,” Applewhite said. “He did a great job here for four years. We appreciate his efforts and his contributions here.”

Applewhite said he was still formulating a plan on replacing Ezell on the South Alabama staff. Should the Jaguars choose to promote from within, wide receivers coach Paul Petrino has experience as an offensive coordinator in past stops at Louisville, Illinois Arkansas and Central Michigan.

An Athens native, Ezell was a walk-on quarterback and wide receiver at Alabama from 2007-10, and later worked as a student assistant (2011), graduate assistant (2015-16) and offensive analyst under Nick Saban (2017-20). He was also part of Jim McElwain’s Colorado State staff from 2012-14.

Ezell won five national championships at Alabama as a player or staff member. While playing for the Crimson Tide, he achieved a level of fame in the college football world for his spot-on Saban impersonation that was captured by ESPN cameras in 2010.

Wake Forest recently hired Washington State head coach Jake Dickert following the retirement of Dave Clawson. The Demon Deacons finished 4-8 in 2024.

News of Ezell’s hiring by Wake Forest was first reported by CBS Sports.