Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has successfully led the Tide to a College Football Playoff quarterfinal berth, set to take on No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
DeBoer, who is just 51 years old, has the tough task of replacing one of the greatest head coaches of all time in Nick Saban. Previously the head coach at Washington and Fresno State, he has compiled a 57-16 record.
But what you may not know about the Crimson Tide head coach is that he previously coached at Indiana as an assistant.
Let's take a look at DeBoer's history with the Hoosiers, his coaching roots and more.
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Where did Kalen DeBoer coach before Alabama?
Prior to arriving at Alabama, he was a head coach at Washington and Fresno State. His last season with the Huskies in 2023, he helped lead Washington to a 14-1 record, falling to Michigan in the CFP national championship. He spent 2020-2021 as the head coach at Fresno State. Previously, he was the head coach at DII Sioux Falls from 2005-09.
In between his Sioux Falls and Fresno State stints, he was an assistant at several stops, such as Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and Indiana.
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Kalen DeBoer on 2019 Indiana coaching staff
Yes, DeBoer actually coached for his opposing team in the Rose Bowl. For just the Hoosiers' 2019 season, DeBoer served as Indiana's offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator under Tom Allen. Indiana finished 8-5 that year, in what was Allen's best record as a head coach.
He coached quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr., who went on to join him at Washington, and Peyton Ramsey. The Hoosiers averaged 31.8 points per game that season.
Where did Kalen DeBoer go to college?
Kalen DeBoer played football for Sioux Falls from 1993-96. He was a member of the Sioux Falls 1996 NAIA DII national championship team. He also played baseball for Sioux Falls while still earning a degree in secondary education.
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Kalen DeBoer coaching history
2004-2009: Sioux Falls
DeBoer started his coaching career as an assistant at Washington High School from 1998-99. From 2005-09 he was the head coach at NAIA Sioux Falls, where he played as a wide receiver and started as an OC from 2000-04. He led Sioux Falls to three NAIA national titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
2010-2013: Southern Illinois
Prior to his FBS head coaching days, DeBoer was an assistant on several staffs. From 2010-2013, he was the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Southern Illinois.
2014-2016: Eastern Michigan
His time at Eastern Michigan is a big reason why DeBoer's name was linked to the open Michigan job before the school hired Kyle Whittingham. From 2014-2016, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Eagles. He helped EMU make a bowl for just the third time ever in 2016, a huge turnaround from its one-win season in 2015. In 2016, his offense broke school records for total yards, finishing with 5,917 that season.
2017-2018: Fresno State OC/QBs coach
DeBoer was hired by former Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford, where he spent two seasons with the Bulldogs. He helped Fresno State finish 22-6 over two seasons, and his offense finished 26th in the nation, averaging 34.6 points per game.
2019: Indiana OC/QBs coach
DeBoer's last stop before becoming an FBS head coach was at Indiana. He helped guide the Hoosiers to an 8-5 mark, including a berth in the Gator Bowl. The Hoosiers impressively finished ranked third in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 432.8 yards per game.
2020-2021: Fresno State
DeBoer got his first FBS coaching gig at Fresno State from 2020-21, where he finished 12-6, including a 3-3 mark during a shortened COVID season in 2020, and finished 9-3 with the Bulldogs in 2021.
2022-2023: Washington
He was then hired at Washington, where he finished with back-to-back double-digit win seasons. The Huskies went 11-2 in 2022, capped off with an Alamo Bowl victory over Texas. He led Washington to a 14-1 season in 2023, as the Huskies' lone loss was to Michigan in the CFP National Championship.
2024-Present: Alabama
DeBoer's first season in Tuscaloosa didn't get off to the best start. Although the Tide looked primed for a CFP bid, Alabama finished 9-4, capped off with a loss to Michigan in the Reliaquest Bowl.
DeBoer's 2025 season looked to be headed towards another disappointing finish, as the Tide fell 28-7 to Georgia in the SEC title game. But the CFP committee rewarded Alabama with a bid anyway, and the Tide overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round on the road. Getting Alabama to the playoff semifinals would be a huge accomplishment for DeBoer in Year Two.
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