Is Zac Alley fired? Latest update on Oklahoma coordinator's potential West Virginia move

Zac Alley was hired by Oklahoma ahead of the 2023 season as co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. He joined the Sooners after two seasons as a defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State.

With Oklahoma concluding the season in the Armed Forces Bowl game against Navy, there's a rumor of Alley departing Norman out here. Here's a look at whether the coach has been fired from Brent Venables’ staff.

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Is Zac Alley fired?

Oklahoma hasn't shown Zac Alley the exit door following his first season at the program. However, the coach could leave the Sooners to take up a new job elsewhere in the landscape.

According to ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Alley is set to accept the West Virginia defensive coordinator job. It will mark a reunion with the Mountaineers’ new coach Rich Rodriguez whom he worked under for two years at Jacksonville State.

Zac Alley’s potential departure marks yet another significant shakeup for Oklahoma under Brent Venables. He will now be tasked with replacing both coordinators for the second time in his tenure heading into 2025. The Sooner fired OC Seth Litrell earlier in the season.

With an annual salary of $850,000 in Norman, Alley is among the lowest-paid coordinators in the Southeastern Conference. While his salary at West Virginia is yet to be disclosed, the move offers him a significant professional advantage: full autonomy over the defense.

Despite being just 30, the coach possesses more than a decade of experience in the college football landscape. He started at Clemson in 2011 as a student assistant, working under Venables' defensive staffs but has gone to work at Boise, ULM and Jacksonville State.

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Zac Alley earlier denies West Virginia links

Ahead of the Armed Forces Bowl game, which ended in a narrow 21-20 loss for Oklahoma, rumors emerged that Zac Alley could be heading to West Virginia. However, the coach addressed the rumors following the game, giving fans hope about him staying in Norman.

"Every year, there's going to be something that comes up with jobs and whatnot, man," Alley told OU's in-house radio crew. "But I'm just excited about our team.

“I think coming back next season, we're going to have a great opportunity to be successful, be a top defense in the country, and hopefully we got some young guys who can come along to help us do that."

With the latest reports, it's unclear where the future of Alley lies ahead of the 2025 college football season. Considering the offer from the Mountaineers, Oklahoma will have to put a lot on the table to keep him in Norman.