Why Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has a home-run hire teed up in OC Ryan Grubb

It’ll be nearly seven months before new Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer hears the roar of a Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd. But he’s got a chance to hear a roar of approval in his first week on the job.

The expected addition of Ryan Grubb, who served as DeBoer’s offensive coordinator at Washington, would be a home run hire off a batting-practice fastball. And one that Alabama fans would be quick to embrace, given that Grubb had already caught the eye of retired legendary coach Nick Saban a year ago.

We’re talking about an offensive mind who came to UW in 2022 and took over an offense that ranked 114th in the nation the previous year, and engineered a stunning turnaround — Grubb’s first UW offense ranked No.2 in the nation — with an explosively effective passing attack. And every possible sign points to Grubb, 45, joining DeBoer in short order.

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Consider:

* Hours after DeBoer was introduced as Alabama’s 28th head coach, Grubb posted via social media that while he wanted to be Washington’s head coach, he won’t be UW’s choice.

* DeBoer has kept Grubb close throughout his coaching career, hiring him at three previous stops: Sioux Falls, Fresno State, and Washington. In fact, Grubb was DeBoer’s first staff hire at UW when he took over the Huskies program two years ago.

* He was college football’s second-highest paid assistant coach last year at $2 million, and Alabama has more than enough resources to put him at the top of that list, above Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, who made $2.05 million in 2023.

* DeBoer asserted Saturday that coordinator hires are a higher priority for him, because decisions on position coaches should flow through…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-alabama-coach-kalen-deboer-190554380.html

Author : The Tuscaloosa News

Publish date : 2024-01-14 19:05:54

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