There’s 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’s in all probability no coach underneath extra strain than Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, particularly as he tries to observe 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 recent seat for that efficiency, however the school also announced on Wednesday that it has prolonged DeBoer’s contract by way of the 2033 season.
Alabama renews its dedication to Kalen DeBoer with huge contract extension
It’s not 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, inserting him among the many 5 highest-paid coaches in all of faculty soccer.
Whereas the general report for DeBoer in his first two seasons with Alabama can be a welcome sight for many packages (20-8), it’s not usually what Alabama expects and tolerates. In his first yr, 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 yr 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, advantageous. It is a completely regular two-year stretch for a run-of-the-mill school soccer program, and even perhaps 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” are usually 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 yr with the Huskies. That at the very least exhibits he’s completely able to reaching that stage and that degree. Alabama is taking a giant wager that he’ll get there once more.
