There is an heir to Nick Saban's throne.
Reports say Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer has agreed to become the next head coach of the legendary Alabama football program.
Saba retired Wednesday after 17 years with the Crimson Tide and coaching in some capacity since 1973.
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Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer watches the Texas Longhorns during the Valero Alamo Bowl football game at the Alamodome on December 29, 2022 in San Antonio, TX. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DeBoer, 49, has big shoes to fill, as Saban won six national championships with Alabama and one with LSU; His seven titles are the most for any coach in the history of college football.
But DeBoer knows what it's like to be in the spotlight: He just coached his Huskies to the College Football Playoff national championship, which they lost to No. 1 Michigan, 34-13, in a battle of undefeated teams.
This was only DeBoer's second season with the Huskies after spending two seasons as head coach at Fresno State, including the shortened 2020 season. He also spent five years as head coach at Sioux Falls.
DeBoer's head coaching record is an astonishing 104-12.
ESPN reports that Washington “made a strong push” to retain DeBoer, offering to double his $4.2 million salary. He signed an extension with the Huskies through 2028 last November.
The move comes as a somewhat ironic twist after there were rumors that Washington's (former) Pac-12 rival in Oregon, Dan Lanning, would take the job but announced he would stay in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer raises the PAC-12 championship trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 34-31 in a PAC-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in The Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by (Marc Sánchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OHIO STATE STARS MARVIN HARRISON JR, EMEKA EGBUKA MAKE DECISIONS IN SENIOR SEASONS
Saban boasts an all-time record of 292-71-1 at the college level, including a 19-12 record in bowl games and a 9-5 record in the College Football Playoff. At Alabama, he went 206-29.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place for Terry and me,” Saban said in a statement. “We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years as the head coach at Alabama, as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. It's not just about how many games we won and lost, but the legacy and how we did it. We always try to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were a part of the program. We have done that and will always consider Alabama as our home”.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban looks on in the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines during the CFP Rose Bowl Semifinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2024 in Pasadena, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Nine of Saban's 11 SEC titles came with the Crimson Tide, and his 292 wins are the fifth-most in Division I history.
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