Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Agree to Contract Extension After Michigan HC Rumors, Details Revealed
Alabama and football head coach Kalen DeBoer have agreed to a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million.
Crimson Tide athletic director Greg Byrne revealed the news Wednesday during a University of Alabama Board of Trustees meeting, where the deal was approved, per Wilson Alexander of On3.
The deal makes DeBoer one of the top-five highest-paid college football coaches in the country, per Alexander.
Nick Kelly of al.com provided more information.
DeBoer previously shut down rumors connecting him to Michigan after the Wolverines fired head coach Sherrone Moore. He also spoke with On3's Chris Low about his commitment to Alabama.
"I didn't come here to follow Coach (Nick) Saban only to turn around after two years and go somewhere else," DeBoer told Low, adding that he never spoke with Michigan or any school representatives.
"I mean, this is Alabama. I'm at an amazing place. That's the way I was looking at it. I chose to be here. I love the support and love our players and love the direction and everything the staff has done to put the pieces together here over the last two years. A lot of heavy lifting's been done to get us to this point.
"That will continue to happen. But man, we're right here where we want to be, and I plan on being here for a while."
The 51-year-old DeBoer has led Alabama for two seasons. The Crimson Tide went 9-4 in his first year before going 11-4 last season with a win over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
DeBoer landed in Alabama after two great seasons as Washington's head coach. The Huskies went 11-2 in 2022 before improving to 14-1 in 2023 with a national championship game appearance.
Alabama is trending in the right direction under DeBoer. The Crimson Tide have the No. 3 recruiting class of 2026 on the latest 247Sports rankings, with three 5-star prospects highlighting the group.
As for Michigan, the Wolverines found their new head coach in Kyle Whittingham, who led Utah from 2005-2025. The Utes went 177-88 under Whittingham with a pair of Pac-12 titles.
