Kalen DeBoer hired to replace Nick Saban at Alabama, leaving national runner-up Washington

Alabama wasted little time in finding Nick Saban's successor, hiring Kalen DeBoer away from national runner-up Washington.

The powerhouse program tapped DeBoer on Friday to replace Saban, just two days after the 72-year-old coach announced his retirement.

DeBoer says in a statement that he "would not have left Washington for just any school." But he says the chance to coach Alabama "is the opportunity of a lifetime."

Welcome Coach, <a href="https://twitter.com/KalenDeBoer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KalenDeBoer</a> <br><br>