South Alabama parts way with 4 assistant football coaches

South Alabama parts way with 4 assistant football coaches

Coming off a disappointing 7-6 finish, South Alabama football coach Kane Wommack has shaken up his staff in a major way.

Gone are four assistants: wide receivers coach Michael Smith, running backs coach Antonio Bradford, offensive line coach Gordon Steele and linebackers coach Will Windham. All were on Wommack’s original South Alabama staff in 2021 except Bradford, who was in his second season with the Jaguars.

WKRG-TV’s Simone Eli was the first to report the news, which a source confirmed to AL.com.

South Alabama went 10-3 in 2022, and was expected to be among the favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference this past season. However, the Jaguars went just 4-4 in conference league, losing to Troy for the sixth straight year.

South Alabama did rally to win three of its final four games, including a 59-10 victory over Eastern Michigan in the 68 Ventures Bowl this past Saturday. That was the Jaguars’ first bowl victory and secured their second consecutive winning season.

Wommack had made only three total coaching changes in his first two years on the job, all three after assistants left for other jobs. Running backs coach Earnest Hill left for UAB after the 2021 season and was replaced by Bradford.

Cornerbacks coach Dwike Wilson left for Southern Miss after the 2022 season and was replaced by Jay Hopson. Special teams coordinator Jamael Lett joined the North Carolina staff that same offseason and was replaced by Tre’ Williams.

Only three assistant coaches remain from Wommack’s first South Alabama staff: offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite, defensive coordinator/safeties coach Corey Batoon and tight ends coach Rob Ezell. Assistant head coach/director of athletic performance Matt Shadeed has also been with Wommack all three seasons in Mobile.

Wommack is 22-16 in three seasons at South Alabama. He was the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator in 2016-17 before working on the staff at Indiana for three seasons and then returning to Mobile as head coach.