Alabama has found a new head coach.
Kalen DeBoer has finalized a deal to become the next head coach at Alabama, replacing Nick Saban.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was told Washington made a strong push to keep DeBoer and offered to make him one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in the country, but that was not enough.
Washington made a strong push to keep Kalen DeBoer, attempting to make him one of the country's Top 10 coaches, per sources. They offered to double his current base of $4.2 million (before bonuses). https://t.co/B5D5rDXC5g
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 12, 2024
All indications have been that DeBoer was one of Alabama’s top targets after Saban announced his retirement. Other big-name coaches that were floated as possibilities for the Crimson Tide were Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Florida State’s Mike Norvell, and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, but all three are sticking with their current jobs.
DeBoer just completed his second season at Washington and took the Huskies to the national championship game. He went 25-3 in his two seasons at Washington. The 49-year-old from South Dakota went 9-3 in 2021 as the head coach at Fresno State. DeBoer also went 67-3 over five seasons at Sioux Falls. He led the team to three NAIA national championships.
While it is impossible for Alabama to replace Saban, DeBoer should be a popular hire. He is an innovative coach who has won everywhere he has gone and proven he can lead a team to the brink of a national title. Alabama obviously believes DeBoer will eventually get over the hump.
