Replacing Nick Saban will be a near impossible task for Alabama Football, but the Crimson Tide seems to lack confidence that the best long-term option will be Kalen DeBoer. On Monday, it was announced that the details had been finalized in DeBoer’s contract that includes the following:
- Eight-year contract that will run through December 31st, 2031
- Year one’s salary will be $10 million, with a gradual increase to $11,750,000 in the final year of the contract.
- $5 million buyout in 2024, $4 million in 2025, $3 million in 2026, and drops to $0 after
- Bonuses up to $875,000 for winning a National Championship
The contract will make DeBoer the fourth highest-paid coach in the nation, behind Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian.
Alabama Football Learning From Texas A&M, Others
Alabama was going to pay its next head coach a lot of money regardless of who they hired. The last thing they wanted to do following Nick Saban’s departure was hold back on money and send the message that they weren’t necessarily confident in the new head coach. Giving DeBoer a contract with a total value of $87 million sends fans a strong message that Alabama is confident that they will continue to be a dominant force in the SEC and college football as a whole.
However, unlike other schools that have made massive deals (Texas A&M) that didn’t meet expectations but were left with a massive buyout, the Crimson Tide have structured the deal to cost them only $12 million at worst, but realistically only $7 million since the Tide won’t be firing DeBoer before the end of one season. It’s possible that Alabama presented two options to DeBoer: one with a lower overall payout but a larger buyout, and the one he ended up signing with a massive payout, but very low buyout.
What Will DeBoer Have To Do To Keep His Job?
Taking the job after the greatest coach of all time is not easy, but DeBoer seems eager to take on the challenge. The thing is, DeBoer may have walked into this position at the perfect time. With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams this upcoming season, Alabama’s pathway to the playoff is now much easier. The Crimson Tide could lose two or possibly three games and still be in a position to make the Playoff.
Compare that to the four-team model that required at most one loss, and it’s easy to see how DeBoer doesn’t even have to match Saban’s success to keep fans content. Sure, fans may want to see undefeated seasons, but at the end of the day, if they make the CFP, that will be good enough to at least keep fans from being irrationally upset.
There is a risk, though.
With an expanded playoff, the expectation is that Alabama will be in the playoffs every season. Missing the playoff even once will put DeBoer on a warm seat, and missing it in consecutive years will likely cost him his job, particularly with his low to no buyout.
The contracts of all of the assistant coaches were also announced, you can check out all of their information here.
OFFICIAL: Kalen DeBoer's contract with Alabama is an 8-year deal, per @Charlie_Potter
The contract pays $10M in Year 1, with up to $11.75M in Year 8💰https://t.co/tF9J5yufZm pic.twitter.com/puAgcWwSJ9
— On3 (@On3sports) March 18, 2024
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