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Oklahoma announces hiring of new co-DC/linebackers coach
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Oklahoma on Saturday announced that Zac Alley would join the Sooners program as its co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach ahead of its 1st season in the SEC.
Alley, a Clemson graduate, was a student assistant and later a graduate assistant for the Tigers while current Sooners head coach Brent Venables was the team’s defensive coordinator.
“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Zac to our coaching family here at Oklahoma,” Venables said in a statement. “He’s going to fit in really well from a cultural, chemistry and philosophy standpoint. Obviously, there’s a familiarity and comfort based on our background together at Clemson. He’s exceptionally hard-working and tough, and has earned his way up the professional ladder by going out on his own and establishing himself.”
Alley departed Clemson in 2018 to become the nickel backs coach at Charlotte, but ultimately became inside linebackers coach and later outside linebackers coach at Boise State. He then joined Louisiana-Monroe as defensive coordinator for a season in 2021 before taking the same position on Rich Rodriguez’s staff at Jacksonville State for 2 seasons.
He replaces Ted Roof, who was fired after the 2023 season.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
