“UA Athletics Director Greg Byrne expressed his excitement about welcoming Kalen and Nicole DeBoer, along with their daughters Avery and Alexis, to The University of Alabama.” “Coach DeBoer has shown he is a victor and has led his teams to victories at each of his trips. I mentioned to our squad the other day that we would have a new coach who is not just an excellent teacher with the Xs and Os, but also someone who genuinely cares about his players. I would want my sons to play for this coach, just as I would have Coach Saban. We have Coach DeBoer for that. We anticipate seeing him oversee the Alabama Crimson Tide football program for many years to come. He is eager to get to work. We appreciate the support provided during this process by our esteemed leaders, President Stuart Bell, Chancellor Finis St. John, and the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.”
The Huskies won the 2024 CFP National Championship under DeBoer’s direction most recently.
According to his Washington Athletics resume, he guided the Huskies to an 11-2 overall record and a victory over Texas in the Valero Alamo Bowl in 2022, his first year on the team. More than any other first-year head coach in school history, those 11 victories were achieved.
“I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,” DeBoer stated. “This program has an unrivaled tradition-rich history in collegiate athletics, and I look forward to carrying that heritage forward in the future. Following Coach Saban is an honor. He has set the bar for college football, and his accomplishments are unheard of. I would not have gone to any old school in Washington. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to oversee the University of Alabama football program I consider myself and my family to be quite fortunate, and I am eager to settle into the Tuscaloosa community. I express my gratitude to the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, President Stuart R. Bell, Chancellor Finis St. John, and Director of Athletics Greg Byrne for their confidence in my ability to oversee this program.”