Kalen DeBoer was named Alabama’s coach on Friday.
That means DeBoer is officially the “guy after the guy.” Legendary coach Nick Saban, who won six national championships at Alabama through a dominant 17-year reign, retired Wednesday. DeBoer, 49, led Washington to the College Football Playoff championship in 2023. The Huskies lost 34-13 to No. 1 Michigan on Monday, but DeBoer increased his stock enough to get the Crimson Tide’s attention.
To ask DeBoer, 49, to duplicate what Saban accomplished with the Crimson Tide would be nonsense, especially with the current college football landscape and the advent of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Also, Saban is the GOAT of college football coaches.
That said, there is an expectation at Alabama to continue to be a top-five program in the new-look, 16-team SEC that welcomes Texas and Oklahoma in 2024. DeBoer was 37-9 between stops at Fresno State and Washington, and he totaled an unbelievable 67-3 record at Sioux Falls in the NAIA.
Can Alabama still be a top-five program with DeBoer
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