Report: Alabama Hiring Former Indiana Offensive Coordinator Kalen DeBoer To Replace Nick Saban

After leading Washington to a Pac-12 title and a national championship appearance, Kalen DeBoer is taking over for Nick Saban as Alabama's next head football coach. Along with head coaching stints at Fresno State and Sioux Falls, DeBoer was the offensive coordinator at Indiana in 2019, when the Hoosiers went 8-5 with quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Alabama is hiring Washington coach and former Indiana offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer to replace Nick Saban as the school's next football coach.

Alabama moved quickly to hire DeBoer, as legendary coach Nick Saban officially retired on Wednesday after winning six national championships in 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide.

DeBoer, 49, garnered interest from arguably the nation's top college football program after an impressive two-year run at Washington, plus a history of success at various other schools. In nine seasons as a head coach at Sioux Falls, Fresno State and Washington, DeBoer has a 104-12 record.

Most recently, he led Washington to an undefeated regular season and Pac-12 title. The Huskies then defeated Texas, 37-31, in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Washington's season came to an end in the national championship game, a 34-13 loss to No. 1 seed Michigan.

In 2022, DeBoer and the Huskies went 11-2 and defeated Texas in the Alamo Bowl. Washington finished No. 8 in the final AP top-25 poll that year. 

DeBoer had great success at Washington with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with 4,903 passing yards in 2023. Penix ranked second in the FBS in passing yards in 2022, behind Western Kentucky's Austin Reed.

Though DeBoer and Penix had a two-year hiatus – Deboer coached Fresno State to a combined 12-6 record from 2020-21 – their experience together dates back even further than Washington.

DeBoer spent one season at Indiana as the offensive coordinator in 2019, and Penix was the starting quarterback. Under former head coach Tom Allen, the Hoosiers went 8-5 that year and reached the Gator Bowl. DeBoer's offense ranked fourth in the Big Ten in points per game (31.8) and second in passing yards (3,931).

Kalen DeBoer spent the 2019 season as offensive coordinator for Indiana / Indianapolis Star, Sioux Falls Argus Leader via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Penix's 2019 season was cut short due to injury after six games. He ended the year completing 110-of-160 attempts for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He helped Indiana achieve a 6-2 record and reach its second consecutive bowl game, but he suffered another season-ending injury after six games. Penix remained with the Hoosiers in 2021, but suffered his fourth season-ending injury five games into the year.

Penix transferred out of Indiana after the 2021 season and joined his former offensive coordinator, DeBoer, at Washington. Together, they helped Washington reach its first national championship game since 1991. DeBoer was named AP National Coach of the Year in 2023 and won his second consecutive Pac-12 Coach of the Year award.

Prior to his lone season at Indiana, DeBoer was the offensive coordinator at Fresno State, Eastern Michigan and Southern Illinois dating back to 2010. His first head coaching job was from 2005-09 at Sioux Falls, where he won three undefeated NAIA National Championships.

DeBoer has massive shoes to fill at Alabama, but his track record of success speaks for itself. 

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