MOBILE, Ala. – Major Applewhite has been selected as the fourth head coach in the history of South Alabama Football, Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann announced Thursday.
 
"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," Erdmann said. "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 those three years, including a 10-win season in 2022 and a 2023 campaign that resulted in the first bowl championship in school history.
 
"I'm incredibly humbled and excited to be the next head football coach at the University of South Alabama," said Applewhite. "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."
 
One of the best offensive minds in all of college football, Applewhite has elevated South's offensive attack since arriving on campus. In his role as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Applewhite's star pupil at USA has been Carter Bradley, who became the winningest quarterback in program history and broke multiple school records along the way. Bradley received All-Sun Belt honorable mention recognition in 2023, and accepted invitations to both the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl at season's end.
 
Under Applewhite's leadership, the 2023 Jaguar offense set a program record for points in a single season with 430 on the year. South Alabama scored 55 points or more in three games throughout the course of the season, including 59 in the team's win over Eastern Michigan in the 68 Ventures Bowl. That number set a program record for points against an FBS opponent. The Jags also scored 55 points in back-to-back wins over ULM and Southern Miss.
 
Applewhite settles into his new role at South Alabama having already spent two seasons as the head coach at Houston. In two seasons at the helm, Applewhite guided the Cougars to a record of 15-11 with two bowl game appearances. In his first season leading the program, UH defeated nationally-ranked South Florida during the regular season on the way to a 7-5 finish and an appearance in the Hawai'i Bowl. The Cougars then improved to 8-5 the next fall while earning an invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl.
 
Between stops at Houston and South Alabama, Applewhite spent two seasons as an analyst on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama. In 2020, he helped guide the Crimson Tide to a perfect 13-0 season and subsequent College Football Playoff National Championship. It was Applewhite's second of two stints at Alabama, his first coming in 2007 when he served as the program's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
From 2008-2013, Applewhite coached at his alma mater, Texas, in various roles. Starting as the program's assistant head coach working with the running backs in 2008, Applewhite was eventually elevated to offensive coordinator in 2011 and served in that capacity for three seasons with the Longhorns. While working for legendary head coach Mack Brown, Applewhite helped Texas win the 2008 Fiesta Bowl and make an appearance in the 2009 BCS National Championship game.
 
After starting his coaching career at Texas in 2003 as a graduate assistant, Applewhite went to Syracuse in 2005 as quarterbacks coach. Following a year in New York, he returned to the state of Texas to serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Rice for the 2006 season.
 
Before transitioning into coaching, Applewhite played quarterback at Texas for four seasons. During his playing career, Applewhite was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the league's co-Offensive Player of the Year in 1999. In his final appearance for the Longhorns, he was named Most Valuable Player of the Holiday Bowl after throwing for 473 yards and four touchdowns in a four-point victory over Washington.
 
Applewhite owns a bachelor's degree in sport management from Texas. He resides in Mobile with his wife, Julie, and children, Lila and Nash.
 
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