After Alabama's disappointing season-opening loss to Florida State on Saturday, Kalen DeBoer is now 9-5 in 14 games as the Crimson Tide's head coach. In his last 10 games, he's a mere 5-5. In the last six games he's coached outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama is now 1-5.
DeBoer is officially on the hot seat. He might occupy space there for quite some time. Because the reality is that Alabama probably can't afford to fire him anytime soon. He would be owed a substantial buyout - 90% of the remaining value of his contract - if the University decides to part ways with him without cause.
So, unless there are some inappropriate charges on his University-issued credit card, Alabama is probably stuck with him for the next couple of years at least. Perhaps the pressure gets to him to the point that he leaves willingly. Or perhaps things get so bad that Greg Byrne can't afford not to fire him.
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The perception of the Alabama program has taken a massive hit under his watch. The issues from last season have carried over. Against Florida State, Alabama looked like a poorly coached, undisciplined football team. They looked like a team that feared no ramifications from poor play or a lack of hustle.
The clock is ticking for DeBoer. It might not happen soon, but it's beginning to look more like when, not if, the DeBoer tenure ends unceremoniously.
Let's examine the candidate pool Byrne should already be evaluating.
Realistic and unrealistic candidates to replace Kalen DeBoer at Alabama
First, a few guys who Alabama fans will inevitably bring up that will not leave their current jobs to come to Tuscaloosa: Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, Dabo Swinney, Marcus Freeman, and Dan Lanning. All are entrenched where they are. None were realistic candidates last time, and none will be realistic candidates this time.
A few off the radar names that are good coaches but aren't likely to get a serious look because of a lack of experience:
- Jon Sumrall, Tulane HC: An Alabama native who has gone 33-9 as a head coach between stops at Troy and Tulane.
- Tommy Rees, Cleveland Browns OC: Nick Saban's last offensive coordinator. Saban has spoken highly of Rees as a football mind and urged Byrne to interview him as a potential replacement.
- Shaun Dion Hamilton, Detroit Lions LBs: A former Saban-era Tide LB, Hamilton is only 29 years old and has never been a coordinator. But he's highly thought of within the Lions organization as a future coaching star.
Three sitting head coaches worth mentioning who just missed the list:
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana: Despite his shots at the SEC, Cignetti understands the Alabama standard and coaches with fire and passion that hasn't been seen at Alabama since January of 2024. Quickly turned Indiana from a perennial punching bag to a College Football Playoff team. The problem is that he's already 64 years old.
- Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State: Well-respected young coach who engineered a quick turnaround at his alma mater. But he's only got 27 games under his belt as a head coach and may still be a little green behind the ears.
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State: Campbell has proven to be an outstanding football coach. He turned Iowa State from a bottom-feeder to a consistent Big 12 contender. The problem is - he's been in Ames for 10 years now and has it made there. He has resisted overtures from other major programs in the past.
The four most realistic candidates:
4. Deion Sanders, Colorado HC
Coach Prime would certainly inject some immediate energy into the program. Sanders parlayed a successful tenure at Jackson State - leading the Tigers to a 27-6 record in three seasons - into the head job at Colorado. He took over a program that won just one game in 2022, and in his second season, led them to nine wins.
Coach Prime is probably the highest risk, highest reward candidate on the market. I doubt Alabama would consider him a realistic candidate for the job, but that would be a mistake.
3. Glenn Schumann, Georgia DC
Schumann doesn't have head coaching experience and is only 35 years old, but he's an Alabama alumnus and considered one of the top defensive minds in the country. Schumann spent seven seasons as an assistant on Alabama's staff before going to Georgia when Kirby Smart was hired as the head coach in Athens.
Schumann has been at least the Co-defensive coordinator at Georgia since 2019; he's been the primary defensive play caller since Dan Lanning took the Oregon job.
Despite his lack of experience, Schumann could be for Alabama what Smart was for Georgia. The Bulldogs rolled the dice on Smart despite him not having head coaching experience. Oregon did the same with Lanning. It's a risk, but Schumann has Alabama in his blood and understands the league and what it takes to win.
2. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss HC
Kiffin is most Alabama fans' preferred candidate, though he's probably not all that realistic. Kiffin didn't make many friends in Tuscaloosa, particularly with the shot-callers.
But he did have a successful run as Alabama's offensive coordinator from 2014-2016. The Tide won three straight SEC Championships during that time and the 2015 National Championship. He's had a strong run at Ole Miss, going 45-18 in 5+ seasons.
1. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans HC
That stunning lack of effort Alabama had defensively against Florida State would not happen with DeMeco Ryans in charge.
Ryans was a star LB for the Crimson Tide from 2002-2005 before a successful pro career with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles. After cutting his teeth as the DC of the San Francisco 49ers, Ryans has gone 20-14 in two seasons as the head coach of the Texans. They've won the AFC South both years, but have yet to advance past the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs.
Ryans is a risky hire, too, in that he's never coached in college. But now that college football resembles the NFL game more than ever, I'm not sure that's as big a deal as it used to be.
It would take a lot to pry Ryans out of Houston, but maybe if Momma calls?