Greg Byrne wasn’t surprised when Kalen DeBoer’s name was being floated for other college football coaching jobs.
At the end of DeBoer’s second season with Alabama football, vacant positions at Penn State and Michigan were tied to DeBoer. DeBoer denied both, saying that there has “never been any conversation” or “interest either way” between him and Penn State Thursday, Dec. 4, and releasing another statement two weeks later in regards to the Wolverines opening.
Advertisement
In an interview with The Tuscaloosa News on Monday, March 2, Byrne declined to be specific when asked about if Alabama and DeBoer have talked about a possible contract extension.
“We want Kalen to be our coach for a long time and that’s where we are,” Byrne said.
Byrne said he and DeBoer “talk all the time,” and that he was not surprised that “somebody would ever express interest in him.”
“I’d much rather it be that way than nobody ever having any interest in any of our coaches,” Byrne said.
Byrne reiterated DeBoer’s statements from December and a statement he made in favor of the Alabama coach, saying “we support him and (are) proud of the leadership he has shown through this historical transition.”
Advertisement
In two seasons, DeBoer has led Alabama to a 20-8 record. He led the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff first-round win against Oklahoma run 2025 before Alabama lost to Indiana in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Greg Byrne talks Kalen DeBoer future with Alabama football
