Alabama’s athletic department is making first-year Crimson Tide football coach Kalen DeBoer one of the highest paid head coaches in the country.
DeBoer has received an eight-year contract worth at least $87 million, while the school also gave basketball coach Nate Oats and athletic director Greg Byrne raises and extensions.
The 49-year-old DeBoer, who replaced seven-time national champion Nick Saban after leading Washington to the national championship game in his second season, is set to make $10 million in his first year. Saban would have made $11 million in 2024 had he not retired.
The contracts received formal approval from the UA System Board of Trustees compensation committee on Monday.
DeBoer earned $4.2 million while guiding the Washington Huskies to the national championship game last season. USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz is reporting that DeBoer has to pay a $5 million penalty if he leaves in 2024, but that figure gets reduced every season until 2027, when he would not owe anything to the school if he were to make his exit.
‘High-level investment from high-level coaches is an important part of the success that we’ve had in our department,’ Byrne told trustees. ‘I feel strongly that we continue to show that with the additional steps we’re taking today.’
DeBoer’s deal runs through December 31, 2033, and calls for a salary of $11.75 million in his final year after $250,000 annual raises.
His bonuses include $600,000 for playing in a national championship game and $875,000 for winning the title. DeBoer made $4.2 million at Washington in his final year.
Oats’ new six-year contract calls for him to make $5 million this year, rising to $7.55 million in his final year through March 14, 2030.
Bryne announced Friday night that Oats had signed a new contract but the details weren’t released until Monday. Oats has led Alabama to the NCAA Tournament four years in a row and the Crimson Tide received their first No. 1 seed last season.
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