Kalen DeBoer tells Washington he's taking the Alabama head coach job
Kalen DeBoer has informed the University of Washington that he intends to leave the program and become the next head football coach at Alabama, according to insiders.
News broke earlier in the day that DeBoer's representatives were in negotiations with Alabama to replace Nick Saban, and shortly afterwards, the Huskies team scheduled a team meeting at 1:30 p.m. local time at which it is believed DeBoer will tell his players of his intentions to leave for Alabama.
The moment Saban retired, the Alabama job became by far the most prestigious vacancy at any level of football, and numerous high-profile names were floated by insiders as potential replacements for the seven-time national champion.
But one by one, those names were taken off the table: Florida State signed Mike Norvell to an eight-year extension, Steve Sarkisian announced his intention to stay at Texas, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning confirmed he will stay put, as well.
That left DeBoer as the biggest piece on the chess board. In order for him to leave the school, Alabama will have to pay Washington a $12 million buyout, as per the terms of the coach's contract there.
That number, combined with DeBoer's expected salary of at least $10 million per year, could put Alabama's expenses upwards of $100 million to bring DeBoer on as Saban's replacement.
DeBoer inherited a 4-8 Washington team two seasons ago, and turned it into college football's No. 1 passing offense this season, playing for the national championship.
With his departure, Washington now becomes one of the more attractive head coaching positions in college football as the program joins the Big Ten in 2024.
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