Alabama trustees approve Kalen DeBoer's 8-year deal

Field Level Media|published: Mon 18th March, 23:13 2024

Mar 6, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer watches his quarterbacks go through drills during practice of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team Wednesday. credits: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kalen DeBoer is set to more than double his salary in his first year at Alabama after the school's board of trustees approved the new head football coach's eight-year, $87 million contract on Monday.

Details of the deal were confirmed, with DeBoer set to average $10.875 million annually, including a $10 million salary in 2024. Last year as head coach at Washington, he earned $4.2 million, according to USA Today.

The average annual value of his new contract makes DeBoer the fourth-highest-paid coach in the country, ESPN reported. His salary will peak at $11.75 million in 2031.

According to ESPN, the top-paid coaches in terms of average annual value are Clemson's Dabo Swinney ($11.5 million), Georgia's Kirby Smart and Southern California's Lincoln Riley ($11 million-plus apiece), DeBoer, Texas' Steve Sarkisian ($10.64 million) and Florida State's Mike Norvell ($10.52 million).

The overall deal is 90 percent guaranteed should DeBoer be fired without cause. Should he take another job, he would have a buyout of $5 million this year, $4 million in 2025, $3 million in 2026 and nothing thereafter.

DeBoer, 49, was hired in January, shortly after Nick Saban retired following 17 years in charge of the Crimson Tide. Saban led Alabama to six national championships.

In two seasons at Washington, DeBoer registered a 25-3 record, and he led the Huskies to the national championship game last season. Including his stints at Division II Sioux Falls and Fresno State, he has a 104-12 overall record.

—Field Level Media