West Virginia was able to hire Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley for the defensive coordinator role at West Virginia. So, we asked our Oklahoma site about his time in Norman and what the Mountaineers can expect.

What can you expect from the new defensive coordinator? Well, we contacted an authority on the subject in OUInsider.com writer Jesse Crittenden.

1. How was Zac Alley received during his lone year in Norman? What are some of the qualities that make him stand out as a coach?

How was Zac Alley received during his lone year in Norman? What are some of the qualities that make him stand out as a coach? There was certainly a ton of excitement for Zach Alley when he arrived in Norman, and he largely lived up to the billing. A lot of that was Oklahoma-specific — he is Brent Venables’ protege and was often described as a “Venables clone.” But the biggest thing is that he broke the idea that the defensive coordinator is largely irrelevant under Venables.

The biggest thing is that he’s a players coach, and a lot of that is his age. He’s really not much older than the players he’s coaching, and while some could see that as a negative, for him it’s largely a positive.

2. The Oklahoma defense was a bright spot this season. What made it stand out?

Oklahoma took huge steps forward in essentially every aspect, but the most noticeable impact was the rushing defense. The Sooners ranked inside the top 15 in both yards allowed and yards per carry for essentially the entire season. They were particularly adept at limiting mobile quarterbacks. Nico lamaleava, LaNorris Sellers, and Jalen Milton were all stifled on the ground.

3. How does he call a defense? Is he aggressive, etc?

Alley’s defense was all gas and no breaks, and that’s not just limited to Oklahoma. But the Sooners were among the nation’s best at tackles for loss and sacks, and their turnover rate was fantastic through the first six weeks.

Alley isn’t one to play it safe. He wants to keep offenses off balance with shifting formations while dialing up pressure from unexpected places.

4. What type of scheme does he use and what can West Virginia fans expect?

Oklahoma almost always plays with four defensive linemen and three linebackers, though the Sooners sid experiment with some three-man fronts at time this season. Venables’ (and Alley’s) defense is also known for utilizing the “cheetah” position, which is a hybrid of linebacker and defensive back. The cheetah can line up on the line, at linebacker, as a cornerback or even as a safety on any given play. It’ll be interesting to see if Alley brings that to West Virginia.

5. Any other thoughts you have on him as a coach?

Zac is a really personable coach, and he’s certainly one of the promising up-and-coming people in college football. His departure hurts Oklahoma, and he’ll give West Virginia an elite young coach who can be part of the future moving forward.

Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is being reunited with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia.

Rodriguez, who was hired for his second stint as West Virginia’s coach on Dec. 12, announced Sunday that he hired the 31-year-old Alley as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

“Zac is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the country and has proven his ability to lead and be an innovator at different stops during his career,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I have worked with him several seasons, and he constantly impresses me with his ability to blend schemes with his personnel and develop winning results.”

Under Rodriguez, Alley spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State. Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Bowl Subdivision at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021 when Rodriguez was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator.

In Alley’s lone season at Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in total defense, allowing 318 yards per game.

“I have tremendous respect for Coach Rod, as I’ve seen how he develops players and builds a program,” Alley said. “I look forward to working with the players and doing my part to help WVU be one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference and the nation.”

Alley worked under Oklahoma coach Brent Venables as a graduate assistant at Clemson from 2015 to 2018 when Venables was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach there.

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West Virginia has a lot of work to do to fix the defensive side of the football and much of that work will have to be done out of the transfer portal.

On Saturday, the Mountaineers extended an offer to Memphis defensive line transfer William Whitlow Jr., who was a first-team All-AAC selection this season. In 11 games this season for the Tigers, Whitlow racked up 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass defended. In the bowl game versus West Virginia, Whitlow recorded just one tackle on the night.

At 6’2″, 260 pounds, he has the frame built to play on the edge but has the skill set to be able to handle playing on the interior as well. Considering newly hired defensive coordinator Zac Alley will run a lot of three-man looks, he’ll be better suited as a defensive end.

He has one year of eligibility remaining.

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West Virginia Set to Hire Zac Alley as Defensive Coordinator