Kalen DeBoer explained

Kalen DeBoer
Current Title:Head coach
Current Team:Alabama
Current Conference:SEC
Current Record:0–0
Contract:$10.00 million[1]
Birth Date:24 October 1974
Birth Place:Milbank, South Dakota, U.S.
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:1992
Player Team2:Western Washington
Player Years3:1993–1996
Player Team3:Sioux Falls
Player Years4:1999
Player Team4:Sioux Falls Falcons
Player Years5:2000–2001
Player Team5:Sioux Falls Cobras / Storm
Player Sport6:Baseball
Player Years7:1993–1996
Player Team7:Sioux Falls
Player Years8:1998
Player Team8:Canton Crocodiles
Player Years9:1999
Player Team9:Renner Monarchs
Player Positions:Wide receiver (football)
Left fielder (baseball)
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1997
Coach Team2:Sioux Falls (WR)
Coach Years3:1998–1999
Coach Team3:Washington HS (SD) (assistant)
Coach Years4:2000–2004
Coach Team4:Sioux Falls (OC)
Coach Years5:2005–2009
Coach Team5:Sioux Falls
Coach Years6:2010–2013
Coach Team6:Southern Illinois (OC/WR)
Coach Years7:2014–2016
Coach Team7:Eastern Michigan (OC/QB)
Coach Years8:2017–2018
Coach Team8:Fresno State (OC/QB)
Coach Years9:2019
Coach Team9:Indiana (OC/QB)
Coach Years10:2020–2021
Coach Team10:Fresno State
Coach Years11:2022–2023
Coach Team11:Washington
Coach Years12:2024–present
Coach Team12:Alabama
Coach Sport13:Baseball
Coach Years14:2000–2004
Coach Team14:Sioux Falls (assistant)
Overall Record:104–12
Bowl Record:2–1
Tournament Record:1–1 (CFP)
17–2 (NAIA playoffs)
Championships:3 NAIA (2006, 2008, 2009)
4 GPAC (2006–2009)
1 Pac-12 (2023)
Awards:NAIA All-American (1996)
AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)
NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)
Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2022, 2023)
AFCA Coach of the Year Award (2023)
AP Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2022, 2023)
AP Coach of the Year (2023)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2023)
Home Depot Coach of the Year (2023)
Sporting News Coach of the Year (2023)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year (2023)

Kalen Douglas DeBoer[2] (born October 24, 1974)[3] is an American football coach who is the head football coach at the University of Alabama. DeBoer was the head football coach at the University of Sioux Falls from 2005 to 2009, Fresno State from 2020 to 2021, and the University of Washington from 2022 to 2023. At Sioux Falls, his teams won three NAIA Football National Championships, in 2006, 2008, and 2009. At Washington, his 2023 team played in the National Championship and finished ranked #2 nationally.

Early life and playing career

Born and raised in Milbank, South Dakota, DeBoer graduated from Milbank High School.[4] [5] [6] After a redshirt year at Western Washington University, attended the University of Sioux Falls, DeBoer played at wide receiver from 1993 to 1996 for the Sioux Falls Cougars under head coach Bob Young, setting school records for receptions (234), receiving yardage (3,400) and touchdown catches (33) and earned All-American honors.[7] [8] DeBoer was a student assistant at Sioux Falls in 1997 after his football playing career ended working with the wide receivers, and he graduated in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education.[9]

Following DeBoer's graduation he signed with the semipro Sioux Falls Falcons alongside his former quarterback at Sioux Falls, Kurtiss Riggs.[10] [11] After one season, he signed with the Sioux Falls Cobras of the Indoor Football League (IFL).[12] In his first game with the Cobras he caught two touchdown passes.[13] The team finished his first season with an 8–6 record. In 2001, the team rebranded to the Sioux Falls Storm and moved to the National Indoor Football League (NIFL).[14] In his last season with the team he helped lead them to a 7–7 record and an appearance in the NIFL semifinal.

DeBoer also played baseball at Sioux Falls, hitting .520 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in his senior season of 1997.[15] In 1998, he played one season of independent league baseball with the Canton Crocodiles as a left fielder. He also played one season for the Renner Monarchs.[16]

Coaching career

Early coaching career

After graduating from the University of Sioux Falls, DeBoer remained in the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota as an assistant coach at Washington High School. After two years at Washington, DeBoer reunited with Bob Young and returned to his alma mater as offensive coordinator, a position he held from 2000 to 2004. During his tenure as an assistant football coach, he also served as an assistant baseball coach.[17]

Following Young's retirement, Sioux Falls promoted DeBoer to head coach on December 1, 2004.[18] As head coach from 2005 to 2009, DeBoer had a record of 67–3 and won three NAIA national championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009 and a runner-up appearance in 2007. Two of DeBoer's losses at Sioux Falls came at the hands of Mike Van Diest's national title-winning Carroll Fighting Saints squads in 2005 and 2007.

DeBoer was the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois from 2010 to 2013 under Dale Lennon. He held the same position at Eastern Michigan University from 2014 to 2016 under Chris Creighton, at Fresno State from 2017 to 2018 under Jeff Tedford, and most recently at Indiana under Tom Allen in 2019.[19] The Hoosiers averaged 433.2 yards per game under DeBoer, ranking third in the Big Ten for the season.[20]

Fresno State

In 2020, DeBoer was hired as the head football coach at Fresno State.[21] In the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season, he led the Bulldogs to a 3–3 record.[22] In the 2021 season, he led Fresno State to a 9–3 regular season record. The season was highlighted with ranked victories over UCLA and San Diego State.[23] The Bulldogs qualified for the New Mexico Bowl, where they defeated UTEP 31–24.[24]

Washington

On November 29, 2021, DeBoer was hired as the head football coach at the University of Washington.[25]

2022

In his first season with Washington, DeBoer led the team to a 10–2 regular season record. The season was highlighted with victories over ranked teams Michigan State, Oregon State, and Oregon.[26] DeBoer was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the 2022 season.[27] The Huskies finished the season with a 27–20 win over Texas in the Alamo Bowl, finishing 11–2.[28]

2023

In his second season, Washington finished the regular season 12–0. Washington then defeated Oregon 34–31 in the Pac-12 Championship.[29] DeBoer was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.[30] DeBoer earned numerous accolades for the 2023 season, including Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year,[31] Home Depot Coach of the Year,[32] Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year,[33] [34] Walter Camp Coach of the Year,[35] and AP Coach of the Year.[36] DeBoer and the Huskies qualified for the 2023 College Football Playoff as the #2 seed.[37] DeBoer helped lead Washington to a 37–31 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl.[38] In the CFP National Championship, DeBoer suffered his only loss of the season to Michigan, 34–13.[39] The Huskies finished the season 14–1.[40]

Alabama

2024

On January 12, 2024, after the retirement of Nick Saban, DeBoer accepted an offer to become the next head coach at the University of Alabama.[41] [42] In his first season as Alabama head coach, the Tide started the season ranked fifth in the preseason AP and Coaches Poll.

Personal life

On December 29, 2001, DeBoer married Nicole Tendler at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. They have two children together.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bama gives DeBoer top-5 annual salary at $10.9M . March 18, 2024 .
  2. Web site: DeBoer, Kalen Douglas . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191217214629/https://directory.iu.edu/person/details/kddeboer . December 17, 2019 . November 29, 2021 . Indiana University Bloomington.
  3. Web site: Kalen DeBoer Independent Leagues Statistics . November 20, 2023 . Baseball-Reference.com . en.
  4. Web site: Johnson . Randy . September 6, 2018 . Gophers game will be homecoming for man behind Fresno State's offense (and 79-point opener) . December 25, 2019 . Star Tribune . Minneapolis.
  5. Web site: Solari . Chris . September 27, 2019 . Michigan State knows Indiana's offense well, thanks to past connection . December 25, 2019 . Detroit Free Press.
  6. Web site: Kalen DeBoer . December 25, 2019 . EMUEagles.com . Eastern Michigan University.
  7. Web site: Kalen DeBoer . December 25, 2019 . IUHoosiers.com . Indiana University Bloomington.
  8. News: Merry . Wade . January 10, 1998 . USF's Harold a first-team NAIA All-American . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 25.
  9. Web site: Kalen DeBoer . December 25, 2019 . University of Sioux Falls.
  10. News: Bryant . Shawn . July 10, 1999 . Semipro Falcons expect to contend . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 15.
  11. News: Thaler . Adam . April 8, 2000 . IFL certainly different, but it's also enjoyable . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 19.
  12. News: February 10, 2000 . DeBoer signs with Cobras . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 18.
  13. News: April 4, 2000 . Cobras roll in opener . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 13.
  14. News: Thaler . Adam . July 14, 2001 . Storm's mission is simple: Win or say goodbye . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 17.
  15. Web site: Cohen . Matt . February 1, 2019 . 'I think that's what he'll do at Indiana': Kalen DeBoer's journey from Sioux Falls to IU . December 25, 2019 . The Hoosier Network.
  16. News: June 15, 1999 . Renner Monarchs 24, Sioux Falls Bud/Champps 6 . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 14.
  17. News: April 3, 2002 . Tendler-DeBoer . April 16, 2024 . Argus-Leader . 34.
  18. Web site: December 1, 2004 . DeBoer named Head Football Coach, Riggs to assist . https://web.archive.org/web/20041209151411/http://www.usiouxfalls.edu/sports/football/news.htm#DeBoer . December 9, 2004 . December 25, 2019 . University of Sioux Falls.
  19. Web site: Weaver . Matt . January 21, 2019 . DeBoer named IU Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator . January 28, 2019 . 247Sports.com.
  20. Web site: 2019 Big Ten Conference Team Offense . December 26, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  21. Web site: Bonagura . Kyle . Rittenberg . Adam . November 29, 2021 . Fresno State's DeBoer named Washington coach . December 26, 2023 . ESPN.com . en.
  22. Web site: 2020 Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule and Results . December 29, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  23. Web site: 2021 Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule and Results . December 29, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  24. Web site: December 18, 2021 . Fresno State beats UTEP 31-24 in New Mexico Bowl . December 29, 2023 . FOX Sports. Associated Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: Vorel . Mike . November 29, 2021 . UW Huskies hire Fresno State's Kalen DeBoer as next head football coach . November 29, 2021 . Seattle Times . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2022 Washington Huskies Schedule and Results . December 29, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  27. Web site: Pac-12 Coach of the Year Winners . December 29, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  28. Web site: Quinton . Sean . December 29, 2022 . Analysis: Instant impressions from UW's 27-20 win over Texas in the Alamo Bowl . December 29, 2023 . The Seattle Times . en-US.
  29. Web site: Anderson . Mark . December 2, 2023 . No. 3 Washington rallies to beat No. 5 Oregon 34-31 and secure playoff spot . December 29, 2023 . AP News . en.
  30. Web site: December 5, 2023 . DeBoer Named Pac-12 Coach Of The Year; 14 Dawgs Earn All-Pac-12 . December 29, 2023 . Washington Huskies Athletics . en.
  31. Raley . Dan . December 20, 2023 . DeBoer Receives Fourth Coach of the Year Honor . January 22, 2024 . Sports Illustrated . en.
  32. Web site: December 8, 2023 . Penix Jr., DeBoer Take Home Honors At Home Depot Award Show . January 22, 2024 . Washington Huskies . en.
  33. Web site: 2023 Washington Huskies Schedule and Results . December 29, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  34. Web site: DeCourcy . Mike . December 15, 2023 . Sporting News Coach of the Year: Washington's Kalen DeBoer is a '20-year overnight success' . The Sporting News.
  35. Web site: Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award Winners . January 4, 2024 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  36. Web site: Booth . Tim . December 19, 2023 . Washington's Kalen DeBoer is the AP coach of the year after leading undefeated Huskies to the CFP . January 22, 2024 . AP News . en.
  37. Web site: Alam . Adnan . December 4, 2023 . DeBoer leads Washington to CFP berth, along with Michigan, Texas and Alabama . December 29, 2023 . Cronkite News . en-US.
  38. Web site: Adelson . Andrea . January 2, 2024 . Penix-led Huskies again 'prove everybody wrong' . January 2, 2024 . ESPN.com . en.
  39. Web site: Witz . Billy . January 8, 2024 . As the College Sports Model Teeters, Champion Michigan Works to Balance . January 22, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US.
  40. Web site: Kurup . Sahil . January 13, 2024 . Kalen DeBoer bids emotional farewell to Washington football in Alabama news conference . January 22, 2024 . Kitsap Sun . en-US.
  41. Web site: January 12, 2024 . Kalen DeBoer Named Head Coach of Alabama Football . January 13, 2024 . University of Alabama Athletics . en.
  42. News: Low . Chris . March 6, 2024 . How Alabama moved from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer in 49 hours . ESPN . March 7, 2024 . Through conversations with the principals involved and other industry sources, ESPN retraced that head-spinning week, which ushered in a new era of Alabama football and, in some ways, reshaped the landscape of the entire sport..