Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Cullen DeBoer, winner of the 2023 Associated Press, AFCA, Eddie Robinson, George Munger, Walter Camp and Home Depot Coach of the Year awards, has been named head football coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, athletic director Greg Byrne announced Friday. . DeBoer comes to Tuscaloosa after spending the last two seasons in Washington.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cullen and Nicole DeBoer and their daughters, Alexis and Avery, to the University of Alabama,” said Byrne. Coach DeBoer has proven to be a winner and has done a tremendous job as a head coach at each of his stops. One of the things I told our team one day was that we're going to get someone who's not just a great coach. With Xs and Os, but someone who cares about his players and wants my sons to play for anyone, just like I want them to play for Coach Saban. We got that in Coach DeBoer. He is ready. Get to work and we look forward to him leading the Alabama Crimson Tide football program for years to come. Our leadership is grateful for the support of President Stuart Bell, Chancellor Finis St. John, and the University of Alabama System Trustees. During this process.”
In his nine seasons as head coach, DeBoer has won 104 games while losing just 12, including a 25-3 record with the Huskies. In 2023, he led Washington to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, won the Pac-12 Championship and recorded the most wins in a season (14) in program history.
“I have always had tremendous respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,” DeBoer said. “The storied history of this program is unmatched across the landscape of college athletics, and I look forward to continuing to build on it. It has been an honor to follow Coach Saban. He has been the standard of college football, and his success is unprecedented. I would not have left Washington for any school. The opportunity to lead the football program at the University of Alabama This is the opportunity of a lifetime. My family and I feel truly blessed and look forward to becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. I would like to thank Athletic Director Greg Byrne, President Stuart R. Bell, President Finis St. John and the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for placing their trust in me to lead this program. I would like to.”
DeBoer went 11-2 in 2022 and 14-1 in 2023 to become the first Washington coach to win 11 or more games in consecutive seasons. That win resulted in the Pac-12 Coach of the Year award. His Washington teams are also 10-1 vs. went to ranked teams, and he was 18-3 in the playoffs as a head coach.
“I am pleased to welcome Callen DeBore as the new head of the Crimson Tide football program,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell said. “With great enthusiasm for the future, we are confident that Coach DeBoer will continue the proud tradition and excellence synonymous with Alabama athletics. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Athletic Director Greg Byrne for his exceptional leadership throughout this process. Additionally, we appreciate Chancellor Finis St. John and University of Alabama System Trustees The team continues to support our great company.”
Before taking over at Washington, DeBoer spent two seasons at Fresno State, going 12-6 and leading the Bulldogs to the 2021 New Mexico Bowl. His first head coaching stop was at his alma mater, the University of Sioux Falls, where he spent five seasons (2005-09) going 67-3 with three NAIA national titles and three national coaching awards.
DeBoer's other coaching stops include Indiana (2019 – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Fresno State (2017-18 – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Eastern Michigan (2014-16 – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) coordinator/wide receivers), Sioux Falls (2000 -04 – Offensive Coordinator; 1997 – Wide Receivers) and Washington HS (1998-99 – Assistant Coach).
DeBoer coached an offensive line that featured 2023 Maxwell Award winner Michael Benix Jr. and this season's Joe Moore Award recipient. While at Sioux Falls, he produced three NAIA National Player of the Year winners in Lorenzo Brown (2009) and Chad Cavender (2007) and Nick Gordon (2002) and 25 first-team All-Americans.
A 1998 graduate of Sioux Falls Secondary Education, DeBoer was a standout football and baseball student-athlete. During his football career, he compiled 234 career receptions for 3,400 yards and 33 touchdowns — all school records at the time — and played on the 1996 NAIA Division II national championship team. He hit .520 (still a school record) in baseball as a senior in 1998. His career batting average of .492 ranks first in USF history, along with his 37 career homers and .944 slugging percentage.
DeBoer and his wife Nicole have two daughters, Alexis and Avery.
Although the appropriate members of the Board of Trustees will be notified of the proposed terms and conditions of this proposed appointment, the financial terms will be subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.
