Kalen DeBoer responds to rumors surrounding Penn State job

Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer walks onto the field before a game against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Kalen DeBoer officially put to bed any notion of leaving Alabama for Penn State during a Thursday press conference ahead of this weekend’s SEC Championship Game. 

“There’s never been any link,” DeBoer said when asked about rumors of him leaving for Penn State. “There’s never been any conversation. There’s never been any interest either way. And I’m so glad we can put that to bed right now.”

In addition to squashing speculation, DeBoer said that he and his family are “extremely happy” at Alabama, stating, “Love the grind. Love this place.”

Penn State is still searching for a replacement for James Franklin. The Nittany Lions recently failed in their pursuit of BYU head coach Kalani Sitake.

In two seasons at Alabama, DeBoer has posted a 19-6 record, including a 12-4 mark in SEC play. The Crimson Tide is 10-2 this season, earning the No. 1 seed in the SEC Championship Game with a 7-1 conference record. No. 9 Alabama will play No. 3 Georgia for the conference title on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

On top of on-field success, DeBoer has also been successful as a recruiter. According to the 247 Sports Composite rankings, Alabama signed the No. 3 recruiting class in 2025 and has the No. 4 class for 2026. 

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” DeBoer said during his Wednesday radio show. “The message right now with the team and what they choose to be their theme is the job’s not done, because as much as we’ve accomplished, there’s more that we know we want to go after and go get. That’s this team’s expectation, that’s this program’s expectation. 

“We’ve never wavered from and shied away from any of those expectations that you have here at Alabama.”