Washington’s DeBoer earns coaching honor
SEATTLE — Kalen DeBoer landing the job at Washington two years ago seemed to be an unheralded transaction at the time.
It has turned out to be a shrewd decision by the Huskies. One might say it’s been perfect.
DeBoer was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year on Tuesday after leading the Huskies to a 13-0 record, the Pac-12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff in just his second year in charge at Washington. The Huskies will face Texas in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 with a spot in the CFP championship game on the line.
In his two seasons, the Huskies are 23-2, leaving behind the bitter memory of a 4-8 record in 2021 that led to a change and brought DeBoer to Washington.
“It’s all about the people around me. This is a team award,” DeBoer said. “When you win, I tell the players this, you win football games, you’re going to get recognized and more awards are going to get shared. I’m fortunate enough to kind of be the figurehead of our team and receive these cool awards. Just really blessed.”
DeBoer received 30 of 52 firstplace votes and had 113 points overall from AP Top 25 voters to easily outpace Florida State’s Mike Norvell (57 points). Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz (38) and Arizona’s Jedd Fisch (28) were the only other coaches to receive multiple first-place votes.
DeBoer is in just his fourth season as a head coach in the FBS. He was 67-3 at his alma mater, Sioux Falls, from 2005-09 and won three NAIA championships. At Fresno State, he went 12-6 in two seasons, including 9-3 the final year.
Odds and ends
LSU’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels is skipping the Tigers’ bowl game against Wisconsin, the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day. Garrett Nussmeier is slated to start against the Badgers. … Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is opting out of the Music City Bowl against Auburn. Billy Edwards Jr. and Cameron Edge are Maryland’s top backups at quarterback, and coach Mike Locksley said he expects both to play in the bowl with Tagovailoa absent.…
Caden Veltkamp came off the bench to throw for 383 yards and five touchdowns, Lucas Carneiro made a winning 29yard field goal in overtime and Western Kentucky erased a 28point deficit to beat Old Dominion 38-35 on Monday at the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. … … Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin has agreed to a contract extension. No details were disclosed. Kiffin has guided the Rebels (10-2) to four consecutive bowl berths and two New Year’s Six bowl appearances, including the Peach Bowl against Penn State on Dec. 30.