Alabama football HC Kalen DeBoer recalls best memory from time at Indiana

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Kalen DeBoer still remembers the brief stint that he wore crimson and cream. Five years before being named head coach of Alabama football, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana.

The Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026 brings a couple of reunions. DeBoer and the No. 1 Hoosiers. Former Alabama wide receivers coach Curt Cignetti and the No. 9 Crimson Tide.

But even with the goal of being the team to survive and advance to the CFP National Championship, DeBoer has no ill will towards Indiana and is fond of the season that he spent there.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” DeBoer told reporters on Monday, Dec. 22.

DeBoer recalled how Indiana welcomed his family with “open arms,” calling it a “great place to live.”

“I think there’s things that you do that give you appreciation for the moment you’re in, having an opportunity to be here at Alabama, but I also think there’s moments that you go through,” DeBoer said.

DeBoer reflected on the roles he took after Indiana, like his first head coaching job at Sioux Falls, but also all the time he spent with the Cougars as an assistant.

“You take all of what goes into being built for these moments that come, but I’ve been really blessed to be in the room with so many great coaches who have mentored me along the way that I’ve taken things from to be able to be successful in the moments we’re in right now,” DeBoer said.

Bob Young at Sioux Falls. Tom Allen at Indiana. Those were a couple coaches who served as the models for the way that DeBoer wanted to build programs after taking the helm from Young, going on to put together consecutive 10-plus win seasons at Washington, and now facing a staff he once served in his first championship hunt at Alabama.

The IU memory that still stands out most to DeBoer today is when he was just a state-line away from his hometown in South Dakota.

Five hours south of Milbank, where DeBoer grew up, is the University of Nebraska. When DeBoer was at Indiana, the Hoosiers made the trip to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium and left with a 38-31 win.

“That was a big one for us as we kind of moved forward,” DeBoer said.

Indiana was fueled by a career-high 351-yard, two-touchdown performance by quarterback Peyton Ramsey. With the victory, the Hoosiers had the six wins to make them bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.

Appreciative for how Indiana welcomed him with “open arms,” DeBoer said he still keeps up with Indiana and the program’s progress since he left. He left no question as to where his priorities lie now, though.

For DeBoer, it’s all about helping Alabama “take the next step” and putting his guys in a position to celebrate in Pasadena.

“We’ve got 15 California football players on our team that’s excited to go play closer to home and even more from the West Coast,” DeBoer said.

One century after claiming the program’s first national championship in California, Alabama kicks off against Indiana at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football HC Kalen DeBoer gives best memory from Indiana stint

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