Alabama coaching rumors finally end as Kalen DeBoer replaces Nick Saban for the top job 

After the retirement of Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, many names have been speculated for his successor.

One of these was former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer. He led the Huskies to the national championship game this season before losing to the Michigan Wolverines. This put him in the national conversation for Saban's job.

But, how far has DeBoer come in his career?

Kalen DeBoer's coaching career

DeBoer started his head coaching career in a relatively minor role. For four years, he was in charge of his alma mater, the Sioux Falls Cougars, who play below Division III, which is the lowest division the NCAA offers.

DeBoer led this program to 3 NAIA Division II championships, all with an undefeated season. His record for his entire time with the Cougars was 67-3.

2024 CFP National Championship - Michigan v Washington

DeBoer departed in 2010 and spent the next 10 years as an offensive coordinator for a range of schools.

In 2020, DeBoer would return to head coaching, as he was appointed head coach of the Fresno State Bulldogs. In the two seasons he was at Fresno State, he lead the Bulldogs to the New Mexico Bowl in 2021.

Then, DeBoer made the move to the Washington Huskies, his biggest coaching role in his career. He transformed this side from strugglers to contenders. In his first season, he led the Huskies to an 11-2 season with a second-place finish in the PAC 12.

This gave the Huskies an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against the Texas Longhorns, which they would win.

But the 2023 season would be the breakout season for DeBoer. He led the Huskies to a Pac-12 championship and a place in the College Football Playoff, where a rematch with the Texas Longhorns occurred.

The Huskies won this game, sending them to the National Championship game against the Michigan Wolverines.

Alabama gets a new leader in Kalen DeBoer

The announcement has been made that DeBoer will become the next head coach of Crimson Tide.

On Friday afternoon, ESPN reported that DeBoer was in the process of negotiating a contract with Alabama.

No doubt, this happens to be a reward for an impressive season for DeBoer, having taken the undefeated Washington Huskies to the national championship game.

This will cap off a meteoric rise for DeBoer, who started his coaching career at a small program in South Dakota and is now seen as the successor of one of the most distinguished leaders in college football.