Washington coach leaves to replace Saban at Alabama
Alabama wasted little time in finding Nick Saban’s successor, hiring Kalen DeBoer away from national runner-up Washington.
DeBoer signed a deal with Alabama on Friday.
“I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its committment to excellence,” DeBoer said in a statement. “The tradition-rich history of this program is unmatched across the landscape of college athletics, and I look forward to continuing that moving forward.”
DeBoer, 49, led Washington to the national championship game in his second season. He replaces Saban, who announced his retirement Wednesday after leading the Crimson Tide to six national titles in 17 seasons.
The fast-rising DeBoer led the Huskies to a 14-1 record this season. Washington won the Pac-12 championship, beat Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals and lost to No. 1 Michigan 34-13 in the title game. DeBoer was named Associated Press coach of the year.
He led the Huskies to a 25-3 record in two seasons after taking over a program that was 4-8 in 2021.
DeBoer led his alma mater, Sioux Falls, to a 67-3 record from 2005 to 2009 and won three National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics championships. He later had immediate success at Fresno State, going 12-6 from 2020 to 2021.
At Alabama, he replaces a coach who won seven national titles, the most at a major college level, including one at Louisiana State. The Crimson Tide have been in title contention just about every season since winning their first under Saban in 2009, his third year.
Alabama’s short-term expectations won’t change with a team led by quarterback Jalen Milroe and a roster fortified by a string of top recruiting classes. However, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, who led Alabama with 48 catches, entered the transfer portal.
DeBoer coached Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. last season and brings an offensive track record to replace Saban, a former NFL defensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, the exodus of Washington players entering the NFL draft continued with All-American wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back Dillon Johnson.