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Alabama Football Announces Kalen DeBoer Development on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Oct 15, 2025 4:59 PM ET

The American Heart Association revealed on Wednesday, 28 college football coaches for its 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year watchlist.

The award is given each January to a coach who elevates the game on and off the field and the list ranges from veteran blue-bloods to turnaround architects across the Power Four and Group-of-Five conferences.

Among those listed is none other than Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, who has now led the Crimson Tide to a five-game winning streak.

After a season-opening loss to Florida State, the program has now rattled off three consecutive wins over SEC opponents: Georgia (W 24-21), Vanderbilt (W 30-14) and Missouri (W 27-24).

Coach DeBoer has been named to the @bryantawards watchlist for Coach of the Year. ✊

: https://t.co/VKEAIDf765 pic.twitter.com/BWFMa6iZZZ
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 15, 2025

DeBoer was hired by Alabama on Jan. 12, 2024, succeeding Nick Saban, who had delivered six national championships and nine SEC titles to the program over a 16 year span.

Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, DeBoer has compiled a 14–5 record at Alabama and has continued the program’s national relevance.

Before Bama, he led Washington to a 14–1 season in 2023 and collected multiple national Coach-of-the-Year honors. Across two years at Fresno State, two years at Washington and now two years with the Tide, he has a career coaching record of 51-14 (.785).

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer talks to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) as Simpson comes off the field after a touchdown drive against UL Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama’s next games (Week 8 and Week 9) include a home game vs. Tennessee on Oct. 18, 2025, followed by an Oct. 25 road trip to South Carolina.

Those matchups present both a rivalry test (No. 11 Tennessee) and an early‑season SEC road challenge (South Carolina) that will factor into DeBoer’s candidacy for year‑end honors.

If Alabama can capitalize on its recent momentum, it could emerge as a legitimate national title contender and DeBoer could walk away from this season as the best coach in CFB.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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