The Alabama Crimson Tide are now preparing for the Iron Bowl against the Auburn Tigers on Saturday. With a 9-2 record in the 2025 season, Kalen DeBoer’s squad sits at No. 10 in the third College Football Playoff rankings and is currently positioned inside the playoff field.
However, Alabama’s postseason outlook will depend on how the next two weeks play out. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide are also concerned about the possibility of a veteran coach being poached by the Arkansas Razorbacks.
An Alabama Assistant Coach Emerges as a Leading Candidate for the Arkansas Job
In their “Bunch Information” podcast this week, The Athletic’s senior reporters Chris Vannini and David Ubben shared the latest on Arkansas’ search for a new head coach, which now includes Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
“I’ve been told they’re down to like the final two or three,” Vannini said (48:30). “I’ve heard Kane Womack in that mix.”
“Yeah, his name,” Ubben said (48:49). “That last week was the first time I kind of heard his name in the mix, for it makes a lot of sense. Obviously an alum. Yeah, you know, he’s kind of had an up and down run at Bama, but a guy that is pretty highly regarded obviously.”
Wommack began his playing career at Arkansas, spending his first two collegiate seasons as a reserve fullback. After leaving his role as South Alabama’s head coach following the 2023 season, he joined Alabama on a three-year deal signed in early 2024.
Since taking over Alabama’s defense during the transition from Nick Saban to DeBoer, Wommack has steadied the line. The Crimson Tide currently ranks No. 10 nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 16.2 points per game, and sits sixth in PFSN’s CFB defensive impact ratings.
Womack’s Alabama contract pays him $1.55 million in year one, $1.7 million in year two, and $1.85 million in year three, totaling $5 million. Before South Alabama, he served as Indiana’s defensive coordinator for two seasons.
Wommack has also been linked to the Oklahoma State vacancy, but when asked about the speculation during his Monday press conference, he declined to comment.
“I appreciate the question, but you know, I’m just not going to address any job opportunity stuff,” Wommack said.
If Womack leaves for Arkansas, he will be the first assistant coach in the DeBoer era at Alabama to leave for a head coaching position.
As for the two other candidates for the Arkansas head coaching role, Vannini said they are Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator Collin Klein and North Texas’ head coach Eric Morris, who is also being considered for the Oklahoma State job, and several others.
