New Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer has his defensive coordinator. Former South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack left his post with the Jaguars to take the job.

After coming to UA from Washington following previous stints at Fresno State and Indiana, DeBoer got the same advice from Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne that Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats received on the way in.

“You need someone who knows what sweet tea and grits are,” Byrne said he told the coach who is replacing the retired Nick Saban.

Mission accomplished with Wommack. The new defensive coordinator played at Arkansas and Southern Miss before early coaching stops at Tennessee-Martin, Jacksonville State and Ole Miss.

He served as USA’s linebackers coach and DC in 2016 and 2017 before returning as head coach in 2021. Now, he’s remaining in the state, filling the void left by the retired Kevin Steele.

“I have always found a way to do more with less and now I will have more, which is very exciting,” Wommack said. “But we need to see what those pieces can do and how they best fit.”

After taking the new job, Wommack spoke with AL.com, describing what Crimson Tide fans can expect from him.

“I think what makes me a good defensive coordinator is I recognize that players need to have production,” Wommack said. “There’s a certain way that you need to call the game to make sure that you maximize a young man’s opportunity at the next level and also creates the best opportunity for you to win games.”

Wommack has run a 4-2-5 defensive scheme throughout his career. The attack relies heavily on the safeties, with current Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reeves singing the praises of the system on social media Monday.

Corey Batoon typically called the defensive plays for the Jags, though Wommack had heavy input on the defensive game plan. Wommack said Tuesday that he’s excited to return to that role with the Tide.

“I think I’ve developed as a play caller, but there are certain gifts that everyone has and that’s just always seemed to be something that I’m good at,” Wommack said. “I miss calling plays, I miss figuring out how to attack somebody on third down in the third and fourth quarter, or finding a way to get a stop or creating a negative play in the backfield in a very important part of the game, and making those adjustments. I am thrilled to be able to do those things again.”

DeBoer and Wommack worked together in the past as the offensive and defensive coordinators at Indiana under Tom Allen in 2019. Wommack said his friendship with Alabama’s new head coach is what led to the move.

He said his time as a head coach will help both him and DeBoer as the Tide begins the post-Saban era.

“Learning to be a great soldier as an assistant has made me a good head coach and I think seeing things from the perspective as a head coach will make me a great assistant and a very good soldier for our program and for Kalen,” Wommack said.

“When you have someone that you’re in such lockstep with, and you see things, that vision, the same way and you have open dialogue and communication and you can hear what Kalen needs and how I can best help him with some of the experiences I’ve had as a defensive coordinator and now a head coach, it certainly makes it easier to walk away from being the leader of the program.”