Major Applewhite is named the next head football coach at South Alabama.
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The University of South Alabama made it official Thursday morning: Major Applewhite is the new head coach of the Jaguars football team.
FOX10 News noted Wednesday the reports that USA was finalizing the deal making Applewhite the fourth head coach in Jags history.
“Following a broad evaluation of our program, it became very clear that the best leader for us in both the short and long term is Major Applewhite,” said USA Athletic Director Joel Erdmann. “His professional experience, his string of mentors along his path and his proven ability to recruit, develop and sustain relationships with student-athletes were all significant contributing factors to this decision. I am incredibly excited about our future, and can’t wait to work together with coach Applewhite as we continue to move this program forward.”
Applewhite spent the past three seasons with the Jaguars as the team’s offensive coordinator. South Alabama went 22-16 during that time, including a 10-win season in 2022 and a 2023 campaign that culminated with the first bowl win in school history.
“I’m incredibly humbled and excited to be the next head football coach at the University of South Alabama,” said Applewhite for a news release. “My family and I love living in Mobile, and are thankful for the opportunity to further ingrain ourselves in the community here. I’m grateful to Kane Wommack for bringing me here three years ago, and I look forward to carrying on the winning tradition that has been established. I’m excited to work with the strong and proven leadership of the administration here at South Alabama. I’m anxious to get started and quickly turn my attention back to our players, and prepare them for spring ball and the 2024 season.”
Applewhite replaces Kane Wommack, who resigned as the Jaguars head coach amid reports he is headed to Tuscaloosa to become the defensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Applewhite spent two seasons as the head coach at Houston, guiding the Cougars to a record of 15-11 with two bowl game appearances. He subsequently spent two seasons as an analyst on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama.
In 2007, he served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and from 2008 to 2013 Applewhite coached at his alma mater, Texas, in various roles.
