Kalen DeBoer, a South Dakota native, will be Alabama football's next coach

Milbank, South Dakota native Kalen DeBoer will be Nick Saban’s successor and the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, the school announced Friday. Alabama won nine SEC titles and six national championships in Saban's 17 seasons at the school.

DeBoer is coming off a season in which he led Washington to a 12-0 record, the Pac-12 championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff national title game. In his two seasons with the Huskies, DeBoer has completely turned around the program that went 4-8 In 2021.

More: Q&A: Hear from former University of Sioux Falls coach Kalen DeBoer as Washington preps for Sugar Bowl

DeBoer has a 104-12 overall record as a head coach and led the University of Sioux Falls to three NAIA national championships from 2005-2009.

More: Win or lose, Washington football coach Kalen DeBoer will remain true to his South Dakota roots

After leaving Sioux Falls, DeBoer accepted offensive coordinator positions at Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and Indiana before being named Fresno State’s head coach in 2020. Just like he did at Washington, DeBoer revitalized the Fresno State football program. The Bulldogs went 3-3 in the COVID-19-altered season, then went 9-3 in his second season.

Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Kalen DeBoer to succeed Nick Saban as Alabama football coach