Latest Rumors on Kalen DeBoer's Alabama Future Amid Michigan HC Buzz
The chatter connecting Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer and Michigan grew louder on Friday following a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel, who had this to say before the No. 9 Crimson Tide visited No. 8 Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff (h/t Mike Rodak of al.com).
"Sources tell me that Michigan officials remain convicted that they want to attempt to hire Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer," Thamel said.
"The result of tonight's game is going to factor heavily into that pursuit, as an Alabama loss would make the logistics of attempting to hire DeBoer much more tenable."
Thamel also said that Alabama officials "have worked aggressively to try to sign Kalen DeBoer to a new deal."
DeBoer is in his second season as Alabama's head coach after arriving from Washington, who he led to a national championship game appearance to cap the 2023 campaign.
DeBoer's Division I-FBS head coaching career began with Fresno State in 2020. He was there two years and went 12-6, including a 9-3 record in 2021. He then left for Washington, which went 25-3 under DeBoer's watch. The 2022 squad went 11-2 and finished eighth in the polls before the 2023 team rolled off 14 straight wins before losing to Michigan in the national title game.
DeBoer then replaced coaching legend Nick Saban at Alabama in 2024. The Crimson Tide fell short of the College Football Playoff in year one and ultimately finished 9-4 and 17th in the polls.
This year's squad slid off the right end of the CFP bubble and made the tournament as a No. 9 seed after a 10-win season that featured a spot in the SEC Championship Game, where the team fell to Georgia 28-3.
Michigan is in the market for a new head coach after parting ways with head coach Sherrone Moore.
"Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member," the school reported in a statement. "This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy."
The Detroit Free Press noted that DeBoer has been a "popular name" in connection to the Michigan gig.
DeBoer put out a statement on Dec. 14 indicating his commitment to Alabama.
The Thamel report on Friday evening only enforces the DeBoer-Michigan rumors, though. We'll see if anything comes to fruition, but for now, the Wolverines are still in the market for a new leader.
