Alabama’s New Hire Excites CFB Fans as Kalen DeBoer Replaces Nick Saban

Zach Bachar | January 12, 2024

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Kalen DeBoer is taking over as Alabama’s head coach following Nick Saban’s retirement, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Pete Thamel @PeteThamel

Sources: Kalen DeBoer has informed Washington officials he’s taking the job at Alabama. He’s expected to tell his team soon.

DeBoer wrapped up an immensely successful season with Washington, overseeing one of the country’s top offenses while the Huskies made an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Washington owned the No. 2 passing attack in the nation, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting. In his two years with the school, DeBoer led the Huskies to a record of 25-3.

College football fans were impressed with athletic director Greg Byrne’s choice for Alabama’s next coach, foreseeing a high-powered offense in Tuscaloosa moving forward.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

Alabama is ‘on the cusp’ of hiring Washington’s Kalen DeBoer as it’s next HC, per @PeteThamel

DeBoer will be replacing Nick Saban after 17 seasons pic.com/ACKwnGl9Gl

Greg McElroy @GregMcElroy

Kalen DeBoer Thread

Some of these numbers are just absurd.

105-12 career W-L as head coach

2023 AP COY

2022 Pac-12 COY

Led UW to 2nd CFP in 2023

2023 Pac-12 Champion as Washington HC

3-time NAIA Champion as Sioux Falls head coach

Robert Griffin III @RGIII

Kalen Deboer is a PHENOMENAL hire for Alabama. Every meeting I have ever walked out of with him I always said the same thing. That’s a Coach, I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY FOR. He gets it. His players give their all for him and he won’t try to be Nick Saban or anyone else but himself. pic.com/jGZQjftRrZ

Cruz Oxenreider @TheRealCruzOx

Get ready to learn “Yea, Alabama”, Kalen DeBoer pic.com/5yI0GCe1sj

Alabama Outsider @AlabamaOutsider

Get to know Alabama Football’s next head coach, 49-year old Kalen DeBoer:

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫

– 104-12 overall record as a HC (89.7%)
– 72-1 at home (98.6%)
– 85-9 in the regular season (90.4%)
– 19-3 in postseason (86.4%)

Only loss at home came during COVID season, so… pic.com/ip0lEl13ob

Esther Scott Workman @estherscott

If Kalen DeBoer is good enough for Nicholas Lou Saban and Greg Byrne then he’s good enough for you

Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 @BarrettSallee

Kalen DeBoer is a home run hire for Alabama. Winners win … and that’s exactly what DeBoer has done throughout his career.

104-12 overall in stops at Sioux Falls, Fresno State and Washington. It doesn’t matter that he is in “outsider” when it comes to the SEC. He will kill it.

Jayde Saylor @JaydeSaylor

I don’t hate it at all. It’s hard to get excited about hiring any coach when you had the best but I’m excited to see what DeBoer will do. Welcome to Ttown coach!

Jesse Simonton @JesseReSimonton

Kalen DeBoer is 7-0 against Dan Lanning,

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