South Carolina Gamecocks

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Dave Wommack

Position: Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers Birthdate: 05/09/1956 Experience: 2nd Season at USC

Alma Mater: Missouri Southern, 1978

Dave Wommack, who has spent 14 of his 27 years as a college assistant coach serving as a defensive coordinator, is beginning his second year at Carolina. He will supervise the outside linebackers this season after working with the secondary in 2005.

During his first campaign in Columbia, Wommack helped safety Ko Simpson earn All-America accolades, while both Johnathan Joseph (first round) and Simpson (fourth round) were selected in the NFL draft.

Prior to his arrival at USC, Wommack most recently was the defensive coordinator at Arkansas where he coached four seasons. During his stint with the Razorbacks, he also coached the secondary, free safeties and cornerbacks and inside linebackers.

Prior to his stay at Arkansas, Wommack spent seven successful seasons at Southern Miss. He was the secondary coach at USM from 1994 to 1998 before taking over as defensive coordinator for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. He was also the assistant head coach in 2000. During his time in Hattiesburg, Womack worked closely with current Carolina defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix.

Wommack helped lead the Golden Eagles to winning seasons in each of his seven seasons at the school and bowl appearances in each of his final four seasons.

Wommack is a native of Kimberling City, Mo. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant strength coach at Arkansas in 1979 and was promoted to a full-time assistant strength position in 1980. He made his way onto the field in a part-time coaching position role on Lou Holtz's 1981 and `82 Razorback coaching staffs. In 1983, he became a graduate assistant defensive line coach at Missouri, where he spent two seasons. His first full-time assistant coaching job came as the defensive coordinator at Bemidji (Minn.) State in 1985, before he took over the reigns as defensive coordinator at Southwest Missouri State in 1986, a post he held through the 1991 season. During his time at SMS (now Missouri State), the Bears won consecutive conference championships and appeared in two straight NCAA 1-AA playoff rounds, setting a school record for victories (10) in 1989. In 1992, Wommack took over as the defensive coordinator at UNLV. Following a two-year stint with the Runnin' Rebels, he joined the staff at Southern Miss.

A 1974 graduate of Reeds Springs (Mo.) High School, Wommack was a three-year letterman (center) during his collegiate playing career at Missouri Southern. He earned his bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern in 1978 and his master's degree from Arkansas in 1979.