It might be a year later than expected, but Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer has his right-hand man back, as Ryan Grubb is coming to Tuscaloosa as offensive coordinator.
The two had been inseparable at DeBoer’s head coaching stops, but Grubb left for the NFL last year after initially following DeBoer to Alabama. Now, Grubb is officially back in the fold, much to the excitement of Crimson Tide fans.
Ryan Grubb Set To Join Kalen DeBoer to Alabama
College Football Network has written extensively about Kalen DeBoer and his unprecedented coaching success. Dating back to their time together at NAIA Sioux Falls, Grubb has been there for much of DeBoer’s success.
Grubb got his start at Iowa’s Kingsley-Pierson High School in 2003 as the offensive coordinator, quickly moving into the college ranks at South Dakota State. In 2007, DeBoer hired him as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
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Grubb and DeBoer parted ways when DeBoer moved to FCS Southern Illinois as offensive coordinator while Grubb stayed at Sioux Falls as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and primary play caller. Each served in his respective role from 2010 to 2013.
Then DeBoer moved into the FBS ranks, taking over as offensive coordinator at Eastern Michigan. He hired Grubb as offensive line coach and the two have been together nearly every year since.
Grubb followed DeBoer to Fresno State in 2018 to coach offensive line while DeBoer called plays as the offensive coordinator. As DeBoer moved up the ranks, so did Grubb, actually replacing DeBoer when the latter moved from Fresno State to Indiana in 2019.
DeBoer returned to Fresno State in 2020 to become head coach and retained Grubb, keeping his “associate head coach” title and moving him to quarterbacks for the first time in their working relationship.
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DeBoer continued to have success behind potent offenses and when offered the Washington job, immediately recruited Grubb to follow him.
Under Grubb, Washington finished first and second in passing offense in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Huskies averaged 36 points a game in 2023.
No one was surprised when Grubb followed DeBoer to Alabama, but Grubb changed his mind and instead took the OC job with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in 2024. He lasted just one year there as it was apparently his coaching abilities are more suited for the college game. DeBoer acted quickly and snatched up his right-hand man.
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DeBoer gets most of the acclaim, but Grubb has been present at nearly every stop. Great coaches need a a second-in-command. We caught a glimpse of what Grubb’s absence could mean for DeBoer in last season’s 9-4 mark. Now that Grubb is back in the fold, watch out for the Crimson Tide in 2025.
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