Alabama set to hire Washington's Kalen DeBoer as next head coach following Nick Saban’s retirement: report

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There is an heir to Nick Saban's throne.

Reports say Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer has agreed to become the next head coach of the Alabama football program.

Saban retired Wednesday after 17 years with the Crimson Tide and coaching in some capacity since 1973.

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Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer against the Texas Longhorns during the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome Dec. 29, 2022, in San Antonio.  (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

DeBoer, 49, has some large shoes to fill. Saban won six national championships with Alabama and one with LSU, and his seven titles are the most by any coach in college football history.

But DeBoer knows what it's like to be in the limelight. He just coached his Huskies to the College Football Playoff national championship game, which they lost to No. 1 Michigan, 34-13, in a battle of undefeated teams.

This was only DeBoer's second season with the Huskies after he spent two seasons as the head coach at Fresno State, including the shortened 2020 season. He also spent five years as the head coach of Sioux Falls.

DeBoer's head coaching record is 104-12.

ESPN reports Washington "made a strong push" to keep DeBoer, offering to double his $4.2 million salary. He signed an extension with the Huskies through 2028 last November.

There were rumors a Pac-12 rival of Washington, Oregon's Dan Lanning, would get the job, but he announced he was staying in the Pacific Northwest.

Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer hoists the PAC-12 championship trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks, 34-31, Dec. 1, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Marc