Just a couple of days after the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban, the Alabama Crimson Tide seem to have their man. Fresh off a national title loss in just his second season leading a Power Five program, Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer became the frontrunner for Alabama, ultimately signing a deal to become the successor to Saban in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama Hires Kalen DeBoer
Nick Saban is a tough act to follow, as his seven national titles rank first all-time. But if there’s anyone that can do it, it might be DeBoer.
While he has just two years of Power Five football under his belt, DeBoer is 104-12 in his overall career, including a 72-1 home record. With his only home loss coming during the COVID year, DeBoer has never lost a home game with fans in attendance.
ESPN’s Chris Low and Mark Schlabach were the first to report the news, later confirmed by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
DeBoer started his head coaching career at NAIA Sioux Falls, amassing a 67-3 record with three championships across five seasons. DeBoer moved up the ranks as an offensive coordinator, culminating with his time under Tom Allen at the Indiana Hoosiers in 2019.
His first Division I head coaching opportunity came at Fresno State, where he went 3-3 in a COVID-shortened season and 9-3 in 2021. Since moving to Washington, DeBoer is 25-3 after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship Game.
DeBoer’s record as a head coach is historic. While his nine seasons in coaching are one short of qualifying for the all-time winning percentage leaderboard, his winning percentage of .896 is the second-highest of any head coach in college football history and best among coaches to lead at the Division I level.
Since taking over at Washington, DeBoer is 9-1 against ranked opponents and 14-0 at home. DeBoer’s journey to the Power Five was unusual, but he’s had success everywhere he’s coached and will now take over for the legendary Nick Saban.
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Alabama opens its season with a home game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on August 31.
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