Seizing the Moment: DeBoer’s Takeover of Tide

Schlabach: Alabama AD Felt DeBoer Was ‘Best Choice’ as Saban Replacement (1:19)

Find Out that how Washington’s Kalen DeBoer quickly emerged as the front-runner to replace Nick Saban as Alabama’s head coach (1:19)

• Mark Schlabach

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  Mark Schlabach

  ESPN Senior Writer

  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

• Chris Low

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  Chris Low

  ESPN Senior Writer

  • College football reporter
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

Jan 12, 2024, 02:02 PM ET

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, who guided the Huskies to a Pac-12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship game this past season, was named the next head coach at Alabama, the school announced Friday night.

DeBoer, 49, inherits one of the most coveted jobs in college football — and one of the most difficult — in replacing Nick Saban, whose teams won nine SEC titles and six national championships in his 17 seasons at the school. Saban, who had a 206-29 record at Alabama, retired Wednesday.

“I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,” DeBoer said in a statement released by the school. “The tradition-rich history of this program is unmatched across the landscape of college athletics, and I look forward to continuing that moving forward. Following Coach Saban is an honor. He has been the standard for college football, and his success is unprecedented. I would not have left Washington for just any school. The chance to lead the football program at The University of Alabama is the opportunity of a lifetime. My family and I feel truly blessed and look forward to becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community.”

DeBoer had informed his Washington players and staff Friday afternoon that he was leaving for Alabama, and he arrived in Tuscaloosa by plane on Friday night, when he was expected to meet his new players.

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Kalen DeBoer greets fans after landing in Tuscaloosa

Check out new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer greeting the fans as he lands in Tuscaloosa.

A news conference to introduce DeBoer is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Washington athletic director Troy Dannen made an aggressive pitch to keep DeBoer with a new contract that would have made him one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in the FBS and more than double his current annual salary of $4.2 million, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

But DeBoer turned it down for Alabama and the SEC, meaning he will owe Washington a $12 million buyout after signing a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season in November.

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