The profile of Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has risen significantly throughout the 2025 season. After he faced major criticism for a poor defensive performance in the Crimson Tide's season-opening loss to Florida State, Wommack has done excellent work in getting Alabama's defense among the very best in the country over the last couple of months.
While the Alabama offense has been in a bit of a slump, the defense has risen to the occasion. Alabama allowed only nine points against LSU, and even in defeat a week ago against Oklahoma, the defense only allowed a little over 200 yards of offense and one touchdown.
The biggest compliment to Wommack is how much quality depth he has built throughout the season. Against Eastern Illinois, Alabama didn't have a single defensive player play more than 22 snaps. No starter played more than 18. And yet, there was no discernible drop-off regardless of who was on the field. Alabama pitched a shutout against the FCS foe and held them to 34 total yards. It was the lowest yardage allowed in a game by an Alabama defense since 1962.
Wommack's rise has, justifiably, put his name in the mix for head coaching vacancies. Kalen DeBoer had to figure when he poached Wommack from his job as the South Alabama head coach that it would be a short-term hire. If things went according to plan, Wommack was going to be a hot commodity on the coaching market.
According to Pete Thamel, Wommack is one of four leading candidates for the Arkansas head coaching vacancy. Thamel mentioned on Saturday's broadcast of Arkansas' game against Texas that a resolution on the search was coming soon.
Wommack is joined by USF's Alex Golesh, Memphis' Ryan Silverfield, and North Texas' Eric Morris on the shortlist for the Hogs.
Kane Wommack is in the mix for the Arkansas head coaching job
While Wommack is not a sitting head coach like the others, he does have three seasons of head coaching experience on his resume. He was the head coach at South Alabama for three years, producing a 22-16 record, before DeBoer poached him to become Alabama's defensive coordinator.
His defensive acumen could be attractive to the Razorbacks, considering how big a disaster they have been on that side of the ball the last couple of seasons.
Wommack began his collegiate playing career at Arkansas, spending two seasons in Fayetteville before transferring to Southern Miss. His father, Dave, had multiple stints as an assistant coach for Arkansas from 1979-82 and 2001-04.
If Wommack is the guy at Arkansas, there's unlikely to be any clarity about that until after the Iron Bowl on Saturday. A win could put it off another week with the Crimson Tide then clinching a spot in the SEC Championship Game.