Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer speaks during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Huskies certainly did not let coach Kalen DeBoer depart for Alabama without a fight, at least based on comments made by athletic director Troy Dannen.
Dannen said the Huskies offered DeBoer what he called a “Big Ten package” to remain at Washington even before the Alabama job became available. DeBoer, however, balked at all of Washington’s offers, including one that would have paid him $9.4 million annually, which led Dannen to consider that he might leave.
“We put numbers in front of him that were, quite frankly, unprecedented for this university,” Dannen said at a luncheon Thursday, via Mike Vorel of the Seattle Times. “We put a Big Ten package in front of Kalen, not a Pac-12 package.
“When it wasn’t signed, Kalen said the right things publicly, and I said the right things publicly … but it gives you pause.”
DeBoer essentially bet on himself and won. While terms of his Alabama contract have not been disclosed, he is thought to be getting over $10 million annually, better than Washington’s best offer.
Alabama is a destination job, and coaches may not get a second chance at it if they are even afforded the opportunity to turn it down. Money may have played a role, but the prestige was the biggest thing that Washington could never hope to match.
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