Who is Kalen DeBoer?

Kalen Douglas DeBoer is the head football coach at the University of Alabama. Before this, he was also an American football coach at the University of Sioux Falls (2005 to 2009), California State University, Fresno (2020, 2021), and the University of Washington (2022-2023). He also boasts the experience of playing the game at college and high school levels. As a wide receiver, he played for Sioux Falls from 1993 to 1996. During his time as a head coach, Kalen DeBoer has led the Sioux Falls team to win three NAIA Football National Championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009.

Kalen DeBoer’s early life and family

Kalen Douglas DeBoer was born on October 24, 1974, and was raised in Milbank, South Dakota. The football coach spent his early life in South Dakota and has a strong attachment to the place, being influenced by its sports enthusiasm and natural beauty. DeBoer was raised by Phylis Waterfall as a single mother, and his father's details are not revealed publicly. He was born into a Jewish family. While no confirmed information on his siblings is available, the coach is reportedly said to have a brother and a sister, who played a major role in igniting his interest in the world of sports as a child.

The 49-year-old had been inclined toward football since his teenage days when he would ask his mom to allow him to spend time outside gaining practice for the sport. Soon after graduating from Milbank High School and spending a year at Western Washington University, he attended the University of Sioux Falls, where he got selected for the football team. Kalen started playing as a wide receiver from 1993 to 1996 for the Cougars, where he immediately set records for receptions (234), receiving yardage (3400) and TD catches (33).

Kalen DeBoer's personal life

The head coach is married to Nicole DeBoer. The couple have been married for over two decades. In the summer of 2000, the romance between the two bloomed. It was the time when Kalen DeBoer served as an offensive coordinator at the University of Sioux Falls.

Both described their connection as "love at first sight." The affection for each other was so evident that Kalen and Nicole got married just a year later on December 29, 2001, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with Reverend Don Lehmann presiding over the ceremony. The two also share two daughters: Avery and Alexis. Avery caters to a strong passion for horse riding, and Alexis joined her dad at the University of Washington in November 2023.

Meanwhile, Nicole is also a sports enthusiast. Since a kid who grew up in Sioux Falls, Nicole enjoyed a variety of sports, including basketball. Apart from this, she has a degree in fitness management. Currently, she plays a crucial and dedicated role as a homemaker and provides unwavering support to her husband. Thus, it is natural for the HC to attribute his success to Nicole, describing her as his rock and a pillar of strength since the early days of their marriage.

Kalen DeBoer's Net Worth in 2024

Reportedly, Kalen DeBoer has a net worth of 1.13 million dollars. Over the years, his net worth has increased drastically from $678k (2019) to $ 1.02 million (2022) and $ 1.13 million (2023), all thanks to his consistency with the University of Washington Huskies. Initially, with the Fresno State Bulldogs, he earned a salary of $1.35 million in 2021, and with his initial contract, he made $3.1 million. Eventually, as Kalen DeBoer moved to Washington Huskies, he signed a five-year contract worth $16.5 million.

In November 2022, Kalen's salary saw a hike from 3.1 million dollars to 4.2 million dollars, with a yearly increase of $100,000 for $26.7 million. However, the coach decided to accept the offer from Alabama and succeeded the renowned Nick Saban. Now according to Bleacher Report, Alabama owes Washington approximately $12 million in buyout money. Ross Dellenger on his X account also estimated that DeBoer's contract is going to be a "$10M+ salary." This makes the move of bringing Kalen as a coach quite expensive when combined with the buyout money (near or over $100 million commitment).

Kalen DeBoer Career Records

Kalen DeBoer Coaching Journey

Kalen DeBoer started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Washington High School, right after his graduation. Two years later, he returned to his university but this time as an offensive coordinator, reuniting with Bob Young. He served in this position from 2000-2004. Eventually, in 2004, he was promoted as the head coach for the team because Young retired. Impressively, with Sioux Falls, DeBoer held a 67-3 record and even claimed three NAIA national championships (2006, 2008, 2009).

After that, he moved to Southern Illinois as OC (2010-2013). Later, from 2014 to 2016, he held the same position at Eastern Michigan University under Chris Creighton. Kalen was also the OC for Fresno State from 2017-2018 and Indiana in 2019. In 2020, Kalen DeBoer ascended to the position of HC at California State University, Fresno. From here, his success as a head coach started.

Next, Kalen DeBoer was hired by the University of Washington as the head coach on November 29, 2021. During the 2022 season, he stamped a strong entry into the side with a 10-2 regular season. His triumph over well-established teams allowed him to be named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. The Huskies ended their overall season with a win over Texas in the Alamo Bowl with a score of 27-20.

In the previous season of 2023, DeBoer led his team to a mighty regular season of 12-0. Further, the Huskies defeated Oregon 34-31 in the Pac-12 Championship. Kalen won the Pac-12 Coach of the Year award for the second consecutive year alongside the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year title, Home Depot Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, and AP Coach of the Year.

His team went on to win the Sugar Bowl against the Texas side with a record of 37-31, to finally lose the CFP National Championship to Michigan Wolverines, coached by Jim Harbaugh, with a score of 34-13. On January 12, 2024, he was hired as the HC by the University of Alabama.

Kalen DeBoer's list of awards and honors

3× AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)

3× NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)

2× Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2022, 2023)

AFCA Coach of the Year Award (2023)

2× AP Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2022, 2023)

AP Coach of the Year (2023)

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2023)

Home Depot Coach of the Year (2023)

Sporting News Coach of the Year (2023)

Walter Camp Coach of the Year (2023)

Kalen DeBoer's social media