Hall of Fame
A native of Milbank, S.D., Kalen DeBoer, who is now the head coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team, has a distinction few others hold at USF or anywhere.
DeBoer was part of all four NAIA championships at USF in 1996, 2006, 2008 and 2009 as both a player and coach. An All-American receiver in 1996, he earned All-American honors and set the school record (now ranks second all-time at USF) with 234 catches for 3,400 yards receiving (third all-time at USF) and 33 receiving TDs. In 1996, he played a key role, along with fellow 2015 inductee David Ruter and 2013 inductee Kurtiss Riggs, in bringing home the school’s first ever national championship. As a senior, he had a school record 99 catches for 1,372 yards (ranked third all-time at USF).
DeBoer, who coached three All-NAIA National Players of the Year, led USF to a 67-3 from 2005 to 2009, earning three AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year honors (2006, 2008 and 2009). DeBoer’s teams won four straight GPAC titles while winning national titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009. DeBoer, who ranks second to mentor Bob Young (172 wins) in career wins, directed teams that won 29 straight games, 50 consecutive home games and compiled a 17-2 playoffs record. DeBoer was also an exception baseball player, leading the nation in hitting with a .520 batting average in 1998, finishing with 10 HRs and 34 RBI. He left USF as the career leader in HRs with 37, RBI with 132, hits with 157 and runs with 124 while recording a .492 batting average.
After leaving USF, DeBoer was the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois before heading to Eastern Michigan. He then went on to become the offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Indiana before becoming the head coach at Fresno State followed by a two-year stint at Washington where he led the Huskies to the 2024 CFP National Championship game.
He and his wife, Nicole, have two children, Alexis and Avery.
