Live Update: Oklahoma Co-Defensive Coordinator Zac Alley Set to Join West Virginia
Zac Alley, Oklahoma’s co-defensive coordinator, is reportedly on the verge of becoming the new defensive coordinator at West Virginia, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Connection with Rich Rodriguez
The move would reunite Alley with newly-appointed West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez, who was named to the role earlier this month. Alley previously worked under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State before joining Oklahoma. Rodriguez replaces Neal Brown as WVU looks to rebuild its program.
Alley’s Role at Oklahoma
Alley joined Brent Venables’ staff at Oklahoma ahead of the 2024 season, replacing Ted Roof, who held the position during Venables’ first two years in Norman. This was not Alley’s first stint with Venables, as he began his coaching career as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Clemson under Venables’ mentorship.
Despite a challenging season for the Sooners overall, Alley’s defensive unit delivered strong performances, allowing just 4.94 yards per play, which ranked 25th nationally. Oklahoma’s defense was co-coordinated by Todd Bates, who also oversees the defensive tackles, with Venables playing a hands-on role in game-planning.
Big Changes for Oklahoma
Alley’s reported move to West Virginia comes during a period of significant transition for Oklahoma. This marks the second consecutive offseason in which both of the Sooners’ coordinator positions have changed.
On the offensive side, Oklahoma has already hired Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to lead the offense in 2025. Now, Venables will need to find a replacement for Alley to maintain the defensive momentum the Sooners built this past season.
What’s Next for West Virginia?
Should Alley officially join West Virginia, it would represent a major addition to Rodriguez’s staff as the Mountaineers aim to turn things around under their new head coach.
Oklahoma has yet to confirm Alley’s departure as of this report, but it appears the Sooners will have a fresh look on both sides of the ball heading into the offseason. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
