Kalen DeBoer is stepping into unfamiliar territory - but he’s doing it with the kind of quiet confidence that’s starting to feel very familiar in Tuscaloosa.
Year 2 at Alabama is in the books, and it was a significant one. DeBoer led the Crimson Tide to their first College Football Playoff appearance since 2023, and more importantly, their first CFP win since 2021.
That’s no small feat for a coach still settling into the shadow of a dynasty. And despite whispers linking him to high-profile vacancies at Penn State and Michigan during the postseason run, DeBoer made it clear: he’s not going anywhere.
“Just feel completely supported,” he said back in December. “My family loves living here.
Just all the things that we continue to build on. Love the progress.
Haven’t talked with anyone. No plans of talking with anyone.”
That “progress” he mentioned? It’s more than just coach-speak.
It’s a real, tangible build - and now, as DeBoer enters Year 3 in Tuscaloosa, he’s navigating a new chapter in his coaching journey. This is the longest he’s ever stayed at one program as a Division I head coach.
Before this, the last time he stuck around for more than two seasons was as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Eastern Michigan from 2014 to 2016.
Now, he’s not just staying - he’s steering the ship of one of college football’s most storied programs, with the expectations that come with it. And if history is any indication, Year 3 at Alabama carries some serious weight.
Year 3 at Alabama: A Championship Benchmark
The third season has been a magic number for some of Alabama’s legendary coaches. Wallace Wade set the tone in 1925, leading the Tide to a flawless 10-0 record and a Rose Bowl win over Washington - Alabama’s first national title. Fast forward to 1992, and Gene Stallings followed suit with a perfect 13-0 season and a Sugar Bowl victory over Miami, securing another national championship.
Then there’s Nick Saban. His Year 3 in 2009?
A 13-0 masterpiece that ended with a BCS Championship win against Texas. That season launched what would become one of the most dominant dynasties in the sport.
Out of all the coaches who’ve reached a third year in Tuscaloosa, only one - Jennings Whitworth in 1957 - finished with a losing record. Bill Curry, who went 10-2 in his third season in 1989, left afterward to take the Kentucky job.
Overall, Alabama coaches in Year 3 have posted a combined winning percentage of .753. DeBoer, through two seasons, is sitting at a 71.4% win rate - solid, but still room to grow.
DeBoer’s Track Record in Year 3: A Glimpse from Sioux Falls
While this is DeBoer’s first third year at a Division I program, he’s been here before - just on a different stage. Back in his NAIA days at Sioux Falls, DeBoer was building something special.
In his first two seasons, he laid the foundation. In Year 2, he delivered a national title.
Then came Year 3.
In 2007, Sioux Falls entered the postseason undefeated. The Cougars had been dominant all year, with only one regular season game decided by fewer than 10 points.
But the season ended in heartbreak - a 17-9 loss to Carroll in the NAIA championship game. It was DeBoer’s only loss that season, and his last at Sioux Falls.
What followed? Two straight national championships and a 29-0 run over the next two years.
So yes, DeBoer knows how to build. He knows the pain of coming up just short, and he knows how to respond.
That 2007 loss didn’t derail the program - it sharpened it. It’s the kind of experience that sticks with a coach, especially one now tasked with meeting the sky-high expectations of Alabama football.
What Comes Next
As Year 3 begins, DeBoer is no longer the new guy trying to fill Saban’s shoes. He’s now the face of the program, the architect of its next era.
The roster is being shaped with championship goals in mind. The SEC title is in sight.
The CFP remains the target. And if history is any guide, Year 3 could be the one where everything clicks.
The bar is high - it always is in Tuscaloosa - but DeBoer’s track record shows he’s not afraid of the climb. He’s been through the build before.
Now, the question is whether this third year can be the breakthrough Alabama fans are hoping for. If it is, he won’t just be following in the footsteps of Wade, Stallings, and Saban - he’ll be walking right alongside them.