The Sooners will have all new coordinators in 2025.
Pete Thamel reported Saturday that Oklahoma defensive coordinator Zac Alley is leaving the Sooners for the same position at West Virginia. According to Thamel, the two parties are finalizing a three-year deal.
Sources: West Virginia is finalizing a three-year deal to make Zac Alley the school’s new defensive coordinator. He’s been the DC at Oklahoma and worked for Rich Rodriguez as DC at Jacksonville State.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 28, 2024
Alley was at OU for only one year, and despite all the struggles during the Sooners' 6-7 season, the defense was still impressive under Alley. He served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach during the stint.
The Sooners were 20th in FBS in total defense, averaging 324.4 yards a game. OU gave up 389.7 yards a game and was ranked 63rd in the stat last year before Alley's arrival.
OU was most impressive this season stopping the run, giving up just 105.7 yards a game, which was ranked 11th in the country.
Brent Venables scooped up Alley as an up and coming young coach at only 31 years old this year. Alley was a graduate assistant at Clemson while Venables was the defensive coordinator there.
Alley is leaving one mentor for another, though. Rich Rodriguez just recently became the head coach at West Virginia and Alley was Rodriguez's defense coordinator at Jacksonville State in 2022-23 before going to OU. Rodriguez just left Jacksonville State for West Virginia.
Regardless of connection, the move from Oklahoma to West Virginia is still a head scratcher. Rumors of Alley and the Mountaineers' mutual interest surfaced earlier this week, but the downgrade in programs didn't seem likely.
Alley was also asked about the rumors Friday after the Sooners' 21-20 loss to Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.
"Every year, there’s going to be something that comes up with jobs and whatnot, man, but I’m just excited about our team,” Alley said. “I think coming back next season, we’re going to have a great opportunity to be successful, be a top defense in the country, and hopefully we got some young guys who can come along to help us do that.”
Obviously Alley wasn't entirely truthful just over 24 hours before news broke of him leaving OU.
Venables will now have to replace both of his coordinators. He already hired Ben Arbuckle from Washington State on Dec. 2 to be the Sooners' new offensive coordinator. Arbuckle replaced Seth Littrell, who was fired midseason after just seven games in charge of the offense.