There may be not a school soccer program within the nation with increased expectations and extra calls for positioned on it than the Alabama Crimson Tide. As such, there may be most likely no coach below extra strain than Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, particularly as he tries to comply with within the footsteps of one in all school soccer’s all-time giants in Nick Saban.
Two years into his tenure, the outcomes have been fairly a methods off from the usual that Saban had set for this system over the earlier decade-plus.
Not solely is he not on the new seat for that efficiency, however the college additionally introduced on Wednesday that it has prolonged DeBoer’s contract via the 2033 season.
Alabama renews its dedication to Kalen DeBoer with large contract extension
It isn’t simply the added years to his contract that stand out.
It is usually the truth that he’s getting a major pay enhance, reportedly going from $10.5 million in 2026 to $12.5 million, putting him among the many 5 highest-paid coaches in all of school soccer.
Whereas the general report for DeBoer in his first two seasons with Alabama could be a welcome sight for many applications (20-8), it’s not usually what Alabama expects and tolerates. In his first 12 months, the Crimson Tide misplaced 4 video games for the primary time because the 2007 season and did not qualify for the Faculty Soccer Playoff. In 12 months two, the Crimson Tide went 11-4, certified for the playoffs, after which suffered the worst postseason loss (38-3) in program historical past.
The outcomes have been, in a vacuum, positive. This can be a completely regular two-year stretch for a run-of-the-mill school soccer program, and maybe even an above-average school soccer program. It is good. Actually good.
However Alabama doesn’t see itself as a run-of-the-mill school soccer program. “Good” and “actually good” usually are not the usual that’s set right here. It expects championships. In two years, DeBoer has not gotten near that degree.
He nonetheless would possibly, and he joined Alabama after taking Washington to the nationwide championship sport in his last 12 months with the Huskies. That no less than exhibits he’s completely able to reaching that stage and that degree. Alabama is taking a giant guess that he’ll get there once more.
