Alabama AD Greg Byrne reveals key reason why DeBoer was given a contract extension

Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer high fives Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Michael Carroll (64) during the first half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

The University of Alabama felt Kalen DeBoer earned a contract extension ahead of his third season as the Crimson Tide’s head football coach.

DeBoer signed a seven-year contract extension with the University of Alabama that will pay him $12.5 million annually. The extension came after DeBoer went 20-8 during his first two seasons as the Tide’s head coach.

The University of Alabama’s Athletic Director Greg Byrne recently joined “The Triple Option” show and discussed a key reason why Alabama felt it was the right time to extend DeBoer.

“Kalen DeBoer taking over a historic transition,” Byrne said. “You know what Coach Saban means to our university, and we are forever grateful to him. And at the same time, too, we knew at some point he was going to retire. And when we looked at that and saw as the world was changing to what we’re dealing with today, with the transfer portal and the NIL and things that we should have been more progressive about as an industry, but we weren’t. We’re dealing with that right now. Kalen was, I really felt had the demeanor, had the coaching chops and history to come and navigate this world… Kalen and his staff are recruiting at a very high level. We got to make sure we continue to tweak it to give us the best opportunity for long-term success. And we needed Kalen to lead that, not have instability, not have our third head coach in four years. That’s not good for anybody.”

Byrne is hopeful that stability under DeBoer will lead to continued success.