Zachary Alley is an American football coach who is currently co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Oklahoma. Alley won two national championships as a graduate assistant at Clemson University.

Zac Alley
Current position
TitleCo-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
TeamOklahoma
ConferenceSEC
Biographical details
Alma materClemson University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2011–2014Clemson (SA)
2015–2018Clemson (GA)
2019Boise State (ILB)
2020Boise State (OLB/co-ST)
2021Louisiana–Monroe (DC/LB)
2022–2023Jacksonville State (DC)
2024–presentOklahoma (co-DC/LB)

Coaching career

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Clemson

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After graduating from Charlotte Country Day School, where he played on both the defensive and offensive lines, Alley went to Clemson.[1] Alley began his coaching career as a student assistant his freshman year in 2011 and worked as an assistant his entire time as a student at Clemson. Once he graduated he became a graduate assistant from 2015 to 2018,[2] where he won two national championships under Dabo Swinney.

Boise State

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A month after he was signed to be the nickels coach for the Charlotte 49ers,[3] Alley became the inside linebackers coach for the Broncos for the 2019 season.[2] For the 2020 season he coached the outside linebackers while also being the co-special teams coordinator.[4] During the season Alley contracted COVID-19.[5][6][7]

Under the recommendation of Brent Venables, Alley was hired by Terry Bowden to be the defensive coordinator for the Warhawks in 2021.[8][9][10] Only being 27 years old he was the youngest FBS coordinator.

Jacksonville State

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When Rich Rodriguez was hired as the new head coach at Jacksonville State, after serving as the offensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe, he brought Alley with him as his defensive coordinator.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Where Are They Now? – Kendall Alley". Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site. September 30, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Southorn, Dave (March 30, 2019). "From Clemson to Boise, Broncos' newest assistant brings youthful energy to defense".
  3. ^ "Healy Adds Alley to Coaching Staff". Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. ^ Barnett, Zach. "Zac Alley/Winston Venable -- 2020 Special Teams Coordinators of the Year". Footballscoop. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Southorn, Dave. "Boise State assistant Zac Alley details his COVID-19 experience and recovery". The Athletic. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  6. ^ bjrains@idahopress.com, By B. J. RAINS. "Boise State football assistant coach Zac Alley tests positive for COVID-19". Idaho Press. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Armstrong, Megan. "Boise State LB Coach Zac Alley Announces He Tested Positive for COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Alley named ULM Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach". Crescent City Sports. January 11, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Hunsucker, Adam. "Zac Alley on ULM's new defense, mentor Brent Venables and his COVID-19 experience". The News-Star. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Hunsucker, Adam. "Terry Bowden completes first ULM football coaching staff". The News-Star. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Brice, John (January 6, 2022). "Sources: Rich Rodriguez tabs star-in-the-making young coach to run defense". footballscoop.com. Football Scoop. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
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