Oklahoma defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ted Roof won’t return in 2024, coach Brent Venables introduced in a launch. The Sooners are anticipated to rent Jacksonville State defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who simply completed his first season with the Gamecocks, as Roof’s substitute, 247Sports reports.

Roof spent the previous two seasons because the Sooners’ DC, arriving as a part of Venables’ first employees forward of the 2022 marketing campaign, after beforehand working alongside Venables as a defensive assistant at Clemson in 2021. The choice to maneuver ahead with out Roof, a longtime defensive assistant of greater than 30 years, was “mutually agreed,” based on the assertion. 

“I’ve the utmost respect and appreciation for Ted,” Venables stated in an announcement. “I advised him Wednesday I decided to go in a brand new course at defensive coordinator and supplied him a possibility to stay on our employees in a distinct function. He defined that he has a deep need to maintain teaching and can look to try this at a distinct faculty. Ted is an extremely educated coach and trainer, and his gamers love taking part in for him. Our program is grateful for his excessive dedication the final two seasons and for serving to make us higher.”

Oklahoma ranked No. 78 nationally in whole protection at 389.4 yards allowed per recreation in 2023. Whereas that was an enchancment from 2022, when which the Sooners ranked No. 121 nationally at a whopping 461.0 yards allowed per recreation, it nonetheless ranked sixth out of 14 groups within the Massive 12 as Oklahoma went a 3rd consecutive season with no Massive 12 championship. 

The Sooners started the 12 months 7-0 earlier than dropping three video games within the again half of the season, culminating in a 38-24 Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona during which the Sooners have been outscored 17-0 within the fourth quarter. The crew had beforehand surrendered 45 factors in a successful effort towards TCU in its regular-season finale.

Sooners goal rising star with Clemson ties 

If Oklahoma closes the deal on Alley, it might be fairly the promotion for the 29-year-old, who has three seasons’ value of expertise as a school defensive coordinator. He kickstarted his teaching profession as a scholar assistant and later graduate assistant at Clemson from 2011-18, overlapping with Venables’ run because the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Alley then served as an assistant at Boise State from 2019-20 earlier than taking the defensive coordinator job at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021, making Alley (27 years outdated on the time) the youngest coordinator in FBS. 

Extra just lately, Alley shined in his first season at Jacksonville State. Alley oversaw a Gamecocks protection that ranked thirty third nationally in this system’s first season on the FBS degree. The defensive efforts helped propel Jacksonville State to a 9-4 end, full with a bowl victory, because the Gamecocks gave up simply 20.3 factors allowed per recreation. 

Alley has drawn loads of comparisons to Venables, one thing he is embraced since their time collectively at Clemson. 

“I snigger about it, however I speak like Coach [Venables],” Alley advised The Put up and Courier in November. “I coach like him. My dad and mom inform me my mannerisms are like him on the sidelines.”

A lot shall be requested of Alley within the new function given the timing of the rent. It comes as Oklahoma prepares to depart its 28-year residence within the Massive 12 for the SEC, joined by Texas. The Sooners will reunite with former Massive Eight foe Missouri and former Massive 12 opponent Texas A&M of their new residence, the previous of which they’ll face in 2024.