University of South Alabama Athletics

Major Applewhite was named the fourth head coach in the history of South Alabama Football on Jan. 18, 2024.

In his first season at the helm of the program, Applewhite led the Jaguars to a 7-6 record. The season ended just up the road in Montgomery, Ala. where South won the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl Championship by defeating Western Michigan by a score of 30-23. It was the program’s second-straight bowl championship and Applewhite’s first as a head coach. Applewhite became the first South Alabama head coach to make and win a bowl game in his first season with the team.
 
Under Applewhite’s leadership in 2024, the Jags produced 11 All-Sun Belt Conference performers. Wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett and safety Jaden Voisin both earned First Team All-Conference recognition, with Pritchett becoming the third, 1,000-yard receiver South Alabama has produced since Applewhite became offensive coordinator in 2021. Pritchett was also invited to play in the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl, held at South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium.
 
Known for orchestrating explosive offenses, Applewhite’s impact as head coach was noticeable from his very first game as the Jaguars quickly started breaking records. In the 2024 season opener against North Texas, quarterback Gio Lopez set the program’s single-game record for total offense with 494 total yards on 432 yards passing and 62 yards rushing. A few weeks later, the Jags put up 87 points in a victory over Northwestern State, which was the most points scored by an FBS team since the 1991 college football season, and set a new program record. The Jags ended the year with the most rushing touchdowns in the Sun Belt Conference (32), and finished second in the league in total offense per game at 441.8 yards per contest.
 
In year one at South, Applewhite continued the trend of providing his players with professional opportunities. Wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett, tight end DJ Thomas-Jones, defensive lineman Wy’Kevious Thomas and wide receiver Jeremiah Webb all signed free agent contracts at the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft.
 
Before earning to promotion to head coach, Applewhite spent 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.
 
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.

THE MAJOR APPLEWHITE FILE

PERSONAL
Born: July 26, 1978
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Education: Texas, 2002
Wife: Julie
Children: Lila and Nash

PLAYING CAREER
College: Texas (Quarterback)

COACHING CAREER
2003-04: Texas (Graduate Assistant)
2005: Syracuse (Quarterbacks)
2006: Rice (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2007: Alabama (Offensive Cooridnator/Quarterbacks)
2008-10: Texas (Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs)
2011-12: Texas (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs)
2013: Texas (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2015-16: Houston (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2017-18: Houston (Head Coach)
2019-20: Alabama (Analyst)
2021-23: South Alabama (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2024-present: South Alabama (Head Coach)