Kalen DeBoer
Kalen Douglas DeBoer[1] (born October 24, 1974)[2] 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, California State University, Fresno 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.
DeBoer in 2024 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Alabama |
| Conference | SEC |
| Record | 0–0 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 24, 1974 Milbank, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1993–1996 | Sioux Falls |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1997 | Sioux Falls (WR) |
| 1998–1999 | Washington HS (SD) (assistant) |
| 2000–2004 | Sioux Falls (OC) |
| 2005–2009 | Sioux Falls |
| 2010–2013 | Southern Illinois (OC/WR) |
| 2014–2016 | Eastern Michigan (OC/QB) |
| 2017–2018 | Fresno State (OC/QB) |
| 2019 | Indiana (OC/QB) |
| 2020–2021 | Fresno State |
| 2022–2023 | Washington |
| 2024–present | Alabama |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 104–12 |
| Bowls | 2–1 |
| Tournaments | 1–1 (CFP) 17–2 (NAIA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 NAIA (2006, 2008, 2009) 4 GPAC (2006–2009) 1 Pac-12 (2023) | |
| Awards | |
| 3× AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009) 3× NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009) 2× Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2022, 2023) AFCA Coach of the Year Award (2023) 2× 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) | |
Early life and education edit
Born and raised in Milbank, South Dakota, DeBoer graduated from Milbank High School.[3][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] DeBoer was a student assistant at Sioux Falls in 1997 after his football playing career ended, and he graduated in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education.[8][6]
DeBoer also played baseball at Sioux Falls, hitting .520 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in his senior season of 1997.[5] In 1998, DeBoer played one season of independent league baseball with the Canton Crocodiles as a left fielder.[2]
Coaching career edit
Early coaching career edit
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.[3][6] 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.[8]
Following Young's retirement, Sioux Falls promoted DeBoer to head coach on December 1, 2004.[9] 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.[6] 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.[6] 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.[10] The Hoosiers averaged 433.2 yards per game under DeBoer, ranking third in the Big Ten for the season.[11]
Fresno State edit
In 2020, DeBoer was hired as the head football coach at California State University, Fresno.[12] In the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season, he led the Bulldogs to a 3–3 record.[13] 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.[14] The Bulldogs qualified for the New Mexico Bowl, where they defeated UTEP 31–24.[15]
Washington edit
On November 29, 2021, DeBoer was hired as the head football coach at the University of Washington.[16]
2022 edit
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.[17] DeBoer was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the 2022 season.[18] The Huskies finished the season with a 27–20 win over Texas in the Alamo Bowl, finishing 11–2.[19]
2023 edit
In his second season, Washington finished the regular season 12–0. Washington then defeated Oregon 34–31 in the Pac-12 Championship.[20] DeBoer was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.[21] DeBoer earned numerous accolades for the 2023 season, including Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year,[22] Home Depot Coach of the Year,[23] Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year,[24][25] Walter Camp Coach of the Year,[26] and AP Coach of the Year.[27] DeBoer and the Huskies qualified for the 2023 College Football Playoff as the #2 seed.[28] DeBoer helped lead Washington to a 37–31 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl.[29] In the CFP National Championship, DeBoer suffered his only loss of the season to Michigan, 34–13.[30] The Huskies finished the season 14–1.[31]
Alabama edit
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.[32]
Personal life edit
DeBoer and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Alexis and Avery.[7]
Head coaching record edit
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls Cougars (Great Plains Athletic Conference) (2005–2009) | |||||||||
| 2005 | Sioux Falls | 11–2 | 9–1 | 2nd | L NAIA Semifinal | 4 | |||
| 2006 | Sioux Falls | 14–0 | 10–0 | 1st | W NAIA Championship | 1 | |||
| 2007 | Sioux Falls | 13–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L NAIA Championship | 2 | |||
| 2008 | Sioux Falls | 14–0 | 10–0 | 1st | W NAIA Championship | 1 | |||
| 2009 | Sioux Falls | 15–0 | 10–0 | 1st | W NAIA Championship | 1 | |||
| Sioux Falls: | 67–3 | 49–1 | |||||||
| Fresno State Bulldogs (Mountain West Conference) (2020–2021) | |||||||||
| 2020 | Fresno State | 3–3 | 3–3 | T–5th | |||||
| 2021 | Fresno State | 9–3[n 1] | 6–2 | 2nd | New Mexico[n 1] | ||||
| Fresno State: | 12–6 | 9–5 | |||||||
| Washington Huskies (Pac-12 Conference) (2022–2023) | |||||||||
| 2022 | Washington | 11–2 | 7–2 | T–2nd | W Alamo | 8 | 8 | ||
| 2023 | Washington | 14–1 | 9–0 | 1st | W Sugar †, L CFP NCG† | 2 | 2 | ||
| Washington: | 25–3 | 16–2 | |||||||
| Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (2024–present) | |||||||||
| 2024 | Alabama | 0–0 | 0–0 | ||||||
| Alabama: | 0–0 | 0–0 | |||||||
| Total: | 104–12 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Notes edit
- ^ a b DeBoer was Fresno State's head coach for the regular season before resigning. Lee Marks served as interim head coach for the New Mexico Bowl. The Bulldogs finished the season with an overall record of 10–3.
References edit
- ^ . Indiana University Bloomington. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Kalen DeBoer Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ a b Johnson, Randy (September 6, 2018). "Gophers game will be homecoming for man behind Fresno State's offense (and 79-point opener)". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ Solari, Chris (September 27, 2019). "Michigan State knows Indiana's offense well, thanks to past connection". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Cohen, Matt (February 1, 2019). "'I think that's what he'll do at Indiana': Kalen DeBoer's journey from Sioux Falls to IU". The Hoosier Network. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Kalen DeBoer". EMUEagles.com. Eastern Michigan University. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Kalen DeBoer". IUHoosiers.com. Indiana University Bloomington. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Kalen DeBoer". University of Sioux Falls. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ . University of Sioux Falls. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original on December 9, 2004. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ Weaver, Matt (January 21, 2019). "DeBoer named IU Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ "2019 Big Ten Conference Team Offense". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Bonagura, Kyle; Rittenberg, Adam (November 29, 2021). "Fresno State's DeBoer named Washington coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "2021 Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Fresno State beats UTEP 31-24 in New Mexico Bowl". FOX Sports. Associated Press. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Vorel, Mike (November 29, 2021). "UW Huskies hire Fresno State's Kalen DeBoer as next head football coach". Seattle Times. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ "2022 Washington Huskies Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Pac-12 Coach of the Year Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Quinton, Sean (December 29, 2022). "Analysis: Instant impressions from UW's 27-20 win over Texas in the Alamo Bowl". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Mark (December 2, 2023). "No. 3 Washington rallies to beat No. 5 Oregon 34-31 and secure playoff spot". AP News. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "DeBoer Named Pac-12 Coach Of The Year; 14 Dawgs Earn All-Pac-12". Washington Huskies Athletics. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Raley, Dan (December 20, 2023). "DeBoer Receives Fourth Coach of the Year Honor". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Penix Jr., DeBoer Take Home Honors At Home Depot Award Show". Washington Huskies. December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "2023 Washington Huskies Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ DeCourcy, Mike (December 15, 2023). "Sporting News Coach of the Year: Washington's Kalen DeBoer is a '20-year overnight success'". The Sporting News.
- ^ "Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ Booth, Tim (December 19, 2023). "Washington's Kalen DeBoer is the AP coach of the year after leading undefeated Huskies to the CFP". AP News. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Alam, Adnan (December 4, 2023). "DeBoer leads Washington to CFP berth, along with Michigan, Texas and Alabama". Cronkite News. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (January 2, 2024). "Penix-led Huskies again 'prove everybody wrong'". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ Witz, Billy (January 8, 2024). "As the College Sports Model Teeters, Champion Michigan Works to Balance". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Kurup, Sahil (January 13, 2024). "Kalen DeBoer bids emotional farewell to Washington football in Alabama news conference". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kalen DeBoer Named Head Coach of Alabama Football". University of Alabama Athletics. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
External links edit
- Kalen DeBoer on Twitter
- Alabama Crimson Tide bio
- Indiana Hoosiers bio