Kevin Steele did exactly what he was supposed to do for one season as Alabama’s defensive coordinator.
The 65-year-old had one job in what became the final year of him and Nick Saban in the coaching profession: get the Crimson Tide’s defensive engine revved up to return to the early years of the Saban era. Steele brought relentless toughness to the group, coaching it to a Southeastern Conference Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff last season. His retirement allowed Alabama to hire a young name to push the Tide completely back into being an attacking defense that imposes fear.
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Kane Wommack, 36, is no stranger to the SEC.
He played fullback at the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2006 and his father, Dave, was one of the originators of the 4-2-5 defensive scheme. Dave Wommack was a long-tenured defensive coach, especially in the SEC. He coached at Arkansas, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Kane learned a lot from his dad, and he wants to share the knowledge with Alabama’s. Wommack was a graduate assistant for two years at Ole Miss (2012-13), coaching the “Husky” position (defensive back) under his father.
He said to local Crimson Tide reporters on Wednesday that the nature of the “Swarm Defense” is having 11 players attacking the ball. Wommack wants linebackers setting the tone and everyone else operating with intense focus, high attention to detail, and bring relentless pressure to opposing offenses. His energy has been contagious from the 4th Quarter Program through two spring practices. Wommack coached South Alabama to a top-15 finish (No. 15) for total defense (313.5 ypg allowed) in 2023.
He has more talent to coach in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) and players are super excited to play for him.
Tim Smith, a fifth-year defensive lineman, said Wommack knows how to command a room.
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“The energy is good, everyone loves Coach Wommack,” Smith said. “Me, personally, I have never had a defensive coordinator to command a room like that. As soon as he walks in, you sit up, lock in, eyes forward, track the speaker or whoever is talking at the time… he makes sure you are paying attention. I love Wommack and the energy he’s bringing to everybody. He does not just talk to one specific group, he gets around to everybody. He lets it be made known that he is here for the players.”
Kirby Smart, who was at Alabama as a defensive coordinator from 2007 to 2015, made it known for nine years he was for the players under Nick Saban. His energy and demeanor led to the Crimson Tide winning four national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015) and four SEC Championships (2009, 2012, 2014, and 2015) in that span. Jeremy Pruitt was also an Alabama defensive assistant under Saban that was there for the players. He served as a director of player personnel (2007-09), a defensive backs coach (2010-13), and a defensive coordinator (2016-17), helping the Tide to four national championships and three SEC Championships in his tenure. Wommack comes from the same cloth of toughness, especially having a father coach in the SEC.
Freddie Roach, Alabama’s associate head coach and defensive line coach, has known Wommack for a long time.
Roach said the transition to working with Wommack as defensive coordinator has gone well.
“He is a great guy and an unbelievable coordinator,” Roach said about Wommack. “Our guys have adapted to what’s been happening, and it’s a good thing. It has been a good change for us.”
Malachi Moore, a fifth-year defensive back, said there are differences between Wommack’s defense and Nick Saban’s defense but nothing too complicated.
“There are a lot of differences, but I feel like it’s simpler for us,” Moore said about Wommack’s system. “It is different terminology now, and that was the biggest thing to learn. The terminology is an easy fix, but everything else is simple and smooth.”
Quandarrius Robinson, a former five-star linebacker in the 2020 class, called Wommack an ‘outstanding guy.’
“I love him,” Robinson said about Wommack. “He is very competitive.”
Tim Kennan III, who enters his junior campaign as a defensive lineman, loves the ‘hunger’ in Wommack’s eyes.
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“You can see the hunger in him,” Kennan said about Wommack. “As far as the plays that are being made, there are definitely more plays made on the field. We are having more fun, everyone is running to the opposite end zone when we make a play, so I am loving it — especially up front. I am able to go out there and win, so I am excited about the upcoming spring season.”
Wommack is bringing a vibe to this defense that only Smart and Pruitt had before him in the Saban era.
Alabama fans have a lot to be excited about in spring practice and moving forward.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
