As Arkansas waits for clarity in its head-coaching search, the spotlight has shifted toward a name many consider the program’s “Plan B,” though he’s hardly a consolation prize: Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
With North Texas head coach Eric Morris taking the job at Oklahoma State earlier this week, the Razorbacks are believed to be down to three finalists: Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield, USF’s Alex Golesh, and Alabama’s Wommack.
Golesh has long been viewed as the frontrunner, but the situation has become much more complicated and much more dependent on one major domino.
The Golesh–Kiffin Waiting Game
Golesh was reportedly deep in negotiations with Arkansas, with some even believing a deal was in place. That proved premature, but the interest is real, on both sides. The issue? Timing.
There is increasing belief that Golesh is waiting on Lane Kiffin’s decision about whether to leave Ole Miss for the LSU job. If Kiffin departs, Ole Miss is expected to pursue Golesh aggressively. That possibility has put both the coach and the Razorbacks in a holding pattern.
Arkansas doesn’t want to lose Golesh. Golesh doesn’t want to miss out on Ole Miss. And the entire SEC coaching carousel is essentially frozen until Kiffin makes his decision. The question now is whether Arkansas should wait for the dust to settle, a gamble that could cost them other viable options.
That leaves Arkansas with a real dilemma but also with a very strong fallback option.
Enter Kane Wommack: The “Plan B” That Looks a Lot Like Plan A
Wommack is far more than a safety net. He’s one of the fastest-rising defensive minds in the country and a coach many believe will lead a major program sooner rather than later.
His résumé spans nearly every level of college football:
- Graduate assistant at Jacksonville State (2011) and Ole Miss (2012–13)
- Defensive coordinator roles at Eastern Illinois (2014–15) and South Alabama (2016–17)
- Indiana defensive coordinator (2019–20)
- South Alabama head coach (2021–2023), where he engineered a 10-win season
- Alabama defensive coordinator (2024–present)
Notably, Wommack also has Razorback ties. He lived in Fayetteville, graduated high school there, and spent the first two years of his playing career at Arkansas while his father served on staff.
A Transformative Force at Alabama
Wommack’s work with Alabama in 2024 and 2025 is a major reason he’s one of Arkansas’ top candidates.
After a sluggish start, the Crimson Tide defense surged to become the No. 1 total defense in the SEC this season. Alabama is firmly in the SEC title conversation and hunting a College Football Playoff berth. While many just think its's because of that electric offense, it's also because of that smothering defense.
Highlighting the Crimson Tide’s defense under Wommack:
- Finished No. 10 nationally in scoring defense (17.4 ppg) in 2024
- Lowest points allowed by a UA defense since 2017
- Developed two All-Americans, Jihaad Campbell and Malachi Moore, both drafted into the NFL
- Elevated the entire unit’s play despite depth concerns early in the season
This level of production, in this conference, against these offenses, makes Wommack one of the top defensive coordinators in the sport in such a short period of time. There's even more top level talent that he is currently developing in the 2025 season for the Crimson Tide.
Why Arkansas Fits And Why Wommack Fits Arkansas
For a Razorback team that has fielded one of the worst defenses in program history, the appeal is obvious.
Wommack checks every box Arkansas needs:
- Proven SEC success
- Head-coaching experience with a documented rebuild (South Alabama)
- A defensive pedigree that could immediately reshape the culture
- Southeastern recruiting ties
- Arkansas roots and family connections to the program
The Razorbacks have long believed in a tough, defense-first identity, the kind that dominated the SEC through the Nick Saban Alabama era and now under Kirby Smart at Georgia. Arkansas’ offense has shown spark at times, but its inability to stop anyone has crippled its competitiveness for years.
Wommack represents the kind of cultural reset the program desperately needs.
More Than a Contingency Plan
If Golesh decides to stay put or chase the Ole Miss job, Arkansas will be ready to pivot. And if Wommack becomes the hire, Razorback fans will have legitimate reasons to feel encouraged rather than disappointed.
He’s young.
He’s proven.
He’s connected.
He’s won as a head coach.
And he has built elite defenses in the toughest conference in America.
In almost any other search cycle, Wommack would be considered a top target from day one.