Social media reacts to the report that Zac Alley will be Oklahoma’s next defensive coordinator
The Oklahoma Sooners made news on Thursday when it was announced they had mutually agreed to part ways with defensive coordinator Ted Roof. But it didn’t take long for news to surface that the Sooners have found their replacement.
According to a report from 247Sports Matt Zenitz, the Sooners are expected to hire Jacksonville State defensive coordinator Zac Alley.
Alley spent the last two years with the Gamecocks, helping them win nine games in their first season at the FBS level. He’s also spent time with Louisiana-Monroe and Boise State. He also spent time with Brent Venables as a student and grad assistant at Clemson.
It’s yet to be officially announced, but based on reports from several outlets, the Sooners have their next defensive coordinator in Zac Alley.
Here’s how social media reacted.
What Alley thinks of Brent Venables
Zac Alley was asked in 2021 how big of a mentor Brent Venables has been for him.
“He’s like a father figure to me. A great man, fun to be around and I try to imitate him in everything I do, because he’s been successful.” pic.twitter.com/6YWLS4xrv4
— The REF (@KREFsports) January 5, 2024
Local Confirmation from Florida
BREAKING: The Anniston Star can confirm a report that Jacksonville State defensive coordinator Zac Alley is expected to leave the Gamecocks for the same position at Oklahoma. https://t.co/j9NYttqbWW
— Anniston Star JSU (@StarJaxState) January 5, 2024
Jacksonville State getting lots of guys jobs
jax state has now lost its defensive coordinator zac alley to oklahoma & fomer defensive coordinator/safeties coach kelvin sigler to UTEP.
additionally – the gamecocks lost head strength & conditioning coach blake mccall to texas a&m.
massive losses. https://t.co/Y1PBc8UwvG
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) January 5, 2024
Highly thought of
Didn't know Brent recommended Zac Alley to Terry Bowden's staff as DC a few years back.
— K. Mehrabian (@K_Mehrabian) January 5, 2024
Ba Dum Tss
College football coaching is getting to be a shady business with all these Zac Alley deals. https://t.co/6bTKswZRoo
— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 5, 2024
Reunited. Will it feel so good?
As what implied by myself and @CFBDawgs earlier Oklahoma is hiring Zac Alley the DC from Jacksonville State.
Solid hire for the Sooners, reuniting Zac with his mentor
— Timothy Bailey (@RealTimBailey) January 5, 2024
Trust in BV
BV knocked the Emmett Jones hire out of the park. No reason to think that Zac Alley can’t have the same impact.
— Donnie Hazlewood (@Dn4sty) January 5, 2024
Pretty Good Job at Jacksonville State
Under Zac Alley, Jacksonville State went 18-6 the past two seasons. This year, the Gamecocks ranked 33rd in scoring defense, 43rd in total defense and 15th in rushing defense. Plus, Alley has experience working alongside Brent Venables.
Seems like a smart hire. #Sooners
— Jesse Crittenden (@JesseCrittenden) January 5, 2024
Comes with experience
If you're searching for a DC candidate in the Venables coaching tree, it's Jacksonville State's Zac Alley.
Alley, 29, was a student assistant and then a GA under Venables at Clemson from 2011-18. He's spent the last three seasons as a DC, first at ULM and then JSU. https://t.co/QlkRy01H8r
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) January 4, 2024
Pay Bump Incoming
Couple more notes on Zac Alley:
— He made $213,800 at Jacksonville State this year, per the USA Today database of assistant coach salaries. (Ted Roof earned $1.15M this year, for reference)
— Alley is 29 years old. Brent Venables was also 29 when he was first hired at OU in '99— Tom Green (@Tomas_Verde) January 5, 2024
And the Numbers are Pretty, Pretty Good
Obviously, a huge loss for Jax State.
I thought Jax State's defense was soooooo much better than whatever the numbers say.
When there's more time, I will try to put what Zac Alley (and his players) accomplished in better context than I could here. https://t.co/ztQOcajGvV
— Tyler Waldrep (@tylerwaldrep) January 5, 2024
BV Part II?
Hearing that Zac Alley is a “Brent Venables Clone,” including the need for a “Get-Back Guy.” That alone (two Get-Back-Guys on 1 sideline) could be worth the price of admission #BOOMER pic.twitter.com/AREBvWwuxY
— Sooner Script (@SoonerScript) January 5, 2024
Lots to dissect
How about that for a #Sooners news day!?
✅ Roof ‘mutually’ let go as DC
✅ Big-time transfer DE Caiden Woullard commits to #OU (9.5 sacks in 2023)
✅ OU is hiring Jacksonville State DC Zac Alley as their new LB coach/co-DC
All that and more news:https://t.co/9U2SMhTFPA pic.twitter.com/41i6WNanIb
— Brandon Drumm (@Bdrumm_Rivals) January 5, 2024
Built OU Tough
ngl, Zac Alley looks good in some OU threads 👀 pic.twitter.com/szSeK7Iz3R
— Tattoo Baker 🎥✨ (@QB1TATT00) January 5, 2024
A little look at Alley
Meet Oklahoma’s new DC Zac Alley
Great video here from his days at UL-Monroe…he is essentially a young Brent Venables
(via ULM Warhawks Video) #Sooners pic.twitter.com/135nBfygQD
— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) January 5, 2024
Lets Brent Venables continue to develop as a Head Coach
So I’m assuming the plan for OU is to allow Venables to give up some of the de facto duties of defensive coordinator. To me, that suggests promoting Brandon Hall or hiring Zac Alley from Jax St.
— Allen Kenney (@BlatantHomerism) January 4, 2024
Let Brent Cook
BV made Zac Alley in a lab at Clemson. I am convinced. The master plan is all coming together.
— Wild Bill 🍻 (@Wild_Bill_OU) January 5, 2024
"You complete me?"
BV introducing his new DC pic.twitter.com/psXUmj36DB
— Tyler (@dare2scherr) January 5, 2024
Impressive Detective Work
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) January 5, 2024
Brent got his guy
No. They parted ways because Brent wants to have someone who he can rely on to run the defense without him having to spend so much time doing it himself. https://t.co/MYg6srvtC9
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) January 5, 2024
Already making an impression
I know nothing about him but one thing I do know is he’s good looking. 😂 https://t.co/jzvqJffhTz pic.twitter.com/vabp5tHpPe
— ✨𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶✨ (@OUkristi) January 5, 2024
First Season at the FBS Level
Jacksonville State under Zac Alley in 2023:
-7th in turnovers per game (Sooners were 5th)
-8th in stop rate (per @max_olson)
-15th in run defense
-33rd in scoring defense
-43rd in total defense— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) January 5, 2024
Brent Venables Starter Kit?
Wondering why Brent Venables immediately turned to Jacksonville State DC Zac Alley? Good read on the expected to be #Sooners new defensive coordinator https://t.co/qSWVhvw29W pic.twitter.com/8j0qDUqVVC
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) January 5, 2024
Age is just a number
Brent Venables was 28 when he came to Norman as the #Sooners’ co-DC. Zac Alley is 29.
I wouldn’t worry about the age thing, folks.
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) January 5, 2024
Encouraging Career
When looking at Zac Alley and considering where he’s coming from, understand that defense did what it did in Jacksonville State’s first year at the FBS level.
— Locked On Sooners Podcast (@LockedOnSooners) January 5, 2024
