Report: Alabama contacts Georgia staffer with ties to Kalen DeBoer

The Alabama Crimson Tide are battling with the Georgia Bulldogs for a member of their coaching staff, according to a report from Graham Coffey of TPL Georgia. The report on Thursday evening says that the Tide have reached out to Georgia Director of Recruiting Relations David Cooper to gauge his interest in taking the same role with Alabama.

Cooper played linebacker at Indiana from 2012-2014 under William Inge. Inge was also the co-defensive coordinator/linebacker coach for Kalen DeBoer with the Washington Huskies and the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Inside Kalen DeBoer’s resume, tall task he’s facing as he replaces Nick Saban

Kalen DeBoer’s resume is impressive. Over his nine years as a head coach — four at NAIA Sioux Falls from 2005-09, two at Fresno State from 2020-21 and two at Washington from 2022-23 — he has a 104-12 career record. That includes a 25-3 record with the Huskies, and he took the program to its first-ever national championship game, where they fell to Michigan Monday night in Houston.

DeBoer is also known as an impressive offensive mind, spending most of his career as an offensive coordinator before becoming a head coach. Now, he’s gearing up to replace Saban — which he noted in his statement.

“I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,” DeBoer said. “The tradition-rich history of this program is unmatched across the landscape of college athletics, and I look forward to continuing that moving forward. Following Coach Saban is an honor. He has been the standard for college football, and his success is unprecedented. I would not have left Washington for just any school. The chance to lead the football program at The University of Alabama is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“My family and I feel truly blessed and look forward to becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. I want to thank Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, President Stuart R. Bell, Chancellor Finis St. John and The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for their belief in me to lead this program.”

Saban spent 17 years at Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide to six national championships and winning 201 games during that time. In addition to his trophies, he developed an extensive coaching tree, featuring plenty of big-name coaches such as Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, among many others.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.