The South Alabama Jaguars football program is one of the youngest in the nation, as it was established in 2009 and joined the FBS ranks in 2012. It recorded its first two winning seasons on the highest stage under Kane Wommack the last two years, but after his departure to Alabama, the program needed a new hand at the controls.
Luckily, it’s a familiar one, as former offensive coordinator Major Applewhite took the South Alabama coaching staff reigns in 2024.
South Alabama Jaguars Coaching Staff
Head Coach, Major Applewhite
Major Applewhite was named the fourth head coach in South Alabama football history in January 2024 after spending three seasons as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator. During his time in that role, South Alabama posted a 22-16 record, highlighted by a 10-win season in 2022 and the program’s first-ever bowl win in 2023.
Under Applewhite’s guidance, the 2023 offense set a program record with 430 points, scoring 55 or more in three games, including a 59-point outburst against Eastern Michigan in the 68 Ventures Bowl — a school record against an FBS opponent.
Applewhite also brings prior head coaching experience from his two-year stint at Houston, where he led the Cougars to a 15-11 record and two bowl appearances, including a win over a ranked USF squad.
- Texas (GA, 2003-04)
- Syracuse (QBs, 2005)
- Rice (OC/QBs, 2006)
- Alabama (OC/QBs, 2007)
- 2008–2010 Texas (AHC/RBs, 2008-10; Co-OC/RBs/QBs, 2011-13)
- Houston (OC/QBs, 2015-16; HC, 2016-18)
- Alabama (analyst, 2019-20)
- South Alabama (OC/QBs, 2021-23; HC, 2024-present)
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach, Rob Ezell
After three seasons as South Alabama’s TEs coach, Rob Ezell was promoted to offensive coordinator and QBs coach in February 2024. In his first year with the Jaguars, Ezell coached Lincoln Sefcik to third-team All-Sun Belt honors, with Sefcik recording 32 receptions for 218 yards and five touchdowns — the most by a South Alabama TE since Gerald Everett in 2015.
Ezell brings national championship experience from his time as both a player and staff member at Alabama. He spent five years on Alabama’s staff, starting as a GA in 2016, working with Mario Cristobal with the OL and TEs, before moving to an offensive analyst role. During his tenure, Alabama went 65-5, posted a 39-3 SEC record, won two College Football Playoff titles in 2017 and 2020, and reached the title game two other times.
- Alabama (SA, 2011)
- Colorado State (GA, 2012-14)
- Alabama (GA, 2015-16; OA, 2017-2020)
- South Alabama (TEs, 2012-23; OC/QBs, 2024-present)
Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Will Windham
Applewhite promoted Will Windham to DC and safeties coach after he spent the last three years coaching the team’s linebackers.
During his time with the Jaguars, Windham helped shape a defense that allowed the fewest rushing and total offense yards since the program moved to the FBS. Under his guidance, the defense tied school records with 15 interceptions and 25 takeaways while posting the second-highest sack total in program history.
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Before joining South Alabama, Windham spent three seasons at Kent State, where he coached inside LBs before transitioning to safeties. His efforts helped lead Kent State to a five-win improvement in 2019, capped by the school’s first-ever bowl victory in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl over Utah State.
- Mississippi State (GA, 2011-13)
- Penn State (GA, 2014)
- Davidson (DL, 2015)
- Georgia (QC, 2016-17)
- Kent State (ILBs/Safeties, 2018-20)
- South Alabama (LBs, 2021-23; DC/Safeties, 2024-present)
Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach, Tre’ Williams
Tre’ Williams joined South Alabama before the 2023 season as the special teams coordinator and added outside linebackers coach to his role in 2024. A former All-SEC linebacker at Auburn, Williams also played professionally in the XFL and has been involved in recruiting and data analytics throughout his career.
Cornerbacks Coach, Jay Hopson
Following a two-year stint as Director of High School Relations at Mississippi State, Jay Hopson returned to the sideline as South Alabama’s CBs coach in 2023.
Previously, Hopson was the head coach at Southern Miss, where he posted a 28-23 record with four winning seasons, including a victory over Kentucky and a trip to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Inside Linebackers Coach, Cameron Cleminson
Yet another promotion from last year’s staff, Cameron Cleminson will transition from a graduate assistant to the inside linebackers coach. In 2023, he helped develop Quentin Wilfawn into a second-team All-Sun Belt performer who led the team with 84 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
Prior to joining South Alabama, Cleminson spent two seasons on Luke Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati, contributing to the Bearcats’ undefeated 2021 season and College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance.
Tight Ends Coach, Kyle Skierski
You get a promotion! You get a promotion! Everybody gets a promotion!
Kyle Skierski joined South Alabama in 2023 as a defensive quality control analyst but moved to TEs coach ahead of the 2024 season. Prior to landing in Mobile, he spent the 2022 season as OL coach at Nicholls State and the previous three years at West Georgia, where he helped the Wolves reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Wide Receivers Coach, Paul Petrino
A coaching veteran with extensive experience at all levels of football, Paul Petrino joined South Alabama last offseason after two years as the OC at Central Michigan.
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Before that, he spent nine seasons as head coach at Idaho, where he achieved his most successful year in 2016, earning Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading the Vandals to a 9-4 record, including a 61-50 victory over Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Running Backs Coach, Effrem Reed
Effrem Reed, a standout on Michigan State’s offensive coaching staff, left the Spartans to become South Alabama’s RBs coach under Applewhite. Reed played a crucial role in the development of Kenneth Walker and was instrumental in bringing players like Jalen Berger, Nate Carter, and Jaren Mangham to East Lansing.
Offensive Line Coach, Jason Onyebuagu
A former TEs coach at his alma mater, Northern Illinois, Jason Onyebuagu also has coaching experience at Southeast Missouri State, North Carolina Central, and, most recently, Jackson State, where he served as the OL coach and co-OC in 2023.
Onyebuagu began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina, bringing a diverse background to the Jaguars’ staff.
Defensive Line Coach, Jonathan Bradley
Jonathan Bradley joins Onyebuagu in the journey from Jackson, Mississippi, to Mobile, Alabama. He was the Tigers’ DC and DL coach last year, but that wasn’t his first mark in the SWAC, with stops at Alcorn State, where he served as co-DC, and Arkansas Pine Bluff, where he held the titles of DC and associate head coach.
Bradley also coached the defensive line at North Carolina Central. This isn’t Bradley’s first rodeo in the Sun Belt either; he began his coaching career at Arkansas State, where he was also a standout player.
During his two seasons with the Red Wolves, he helped lead the team to back-to-back Sun Belt titles. A three-time all-conference performer, Bradley went on to play four seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions.
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