Kalen DeBoer has reportedly found Alabama’s next defensive coordinator, luring an active FBS head coach to Tuscaloosa in the process.

According to ESPN’s Chris Low and Adam Rittenberg, the Crimson Tide are finalizing a deal to bring South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack to Alabama. Wommack has led South Alabama for the past three seasons, going 22-16 overall with back-to-back bowl appearances.

DeBoer and Wommack have prior experience together. During the 2019 season, the two served as the offensive and defensive coordinators for Tom Allen’s Indiana staff. DeBoer would leave for Fresno State at the end of that season while Wommack would spend the 2020 season with the Hoosiers before leaving for the South Alabama head coaching job.

Wommack has solid ties in the southeast after playing at Arkansas and Southern Miss in college before brief stints at Jacksonville State and then at Ole Miss under Hugh Freeze as a graduate assistant. He also served as South Alabama’s DC from 2016-17 before leaving to join the Indiana staff.

While at Indiana, Wommack was named a finalist for the 2020 Broyles Award as one of the top assistant coaches in the country. His father, Dave Wommack, was the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss from 2012-16.

Luring an active head coach — with a winning record — to serve as his DC would be a huge win for DeBoer. The fact Wommack has spent time in the region as a player and a coach is also a positive sign due to DeBoer’s lack of time spent in the southeast.