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

By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

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.” Saban won six national titles with the Crimson Tide and seven overall. DeBoer went 25-3 in two seasons at Washington and has a career record of 104-12 at all levels of college football.