Washington coach Kalen DeBoer will step into the college football spotlight as the Huskies coach has taken the Alabama job, replacing the legendary Nick Saban. DeBoer is 104-12 overall with stops at Sioux Falls, Fresno State and Washington. He recently capped an undefeated regular season by leading the Huskies to a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance, where they lost 34-13 to Michigan.
With DeBoer gone, attention now turns to his replacement in Seattle. DeBoer was 25-3 in his two seasons leading the Huskies, and whoever gets the job will have huge shoes to fill as he faces added pressure to lead the program into its first season as a Big Ten member in 2024 .
Historically, Washington hasn't tried to make a big splash in its coaching search. It promoted Jimmy Lake from within after Chris Petersen resigned after the 2019 season and hired DeBoer from Fresno State after DeBoer went 12-6 in two seasons with the Bulldogs.
Will athletic director Troy Dannen take the same path? Or will Washington try to capitalize on its time in the national spotlight and bring in a superstar at the start of a new conference era? Let's break down some of the potential candidates to replace DeBoer.
Ryan Grubb, Washington offensive coordinator: If Washington wants to maintain continuity, Dannen could simply walk down the hall, drop off a few boxes at Grubb's door and ask him to go to the head coach's office. A protégé who worked with DeBoer at all three head coaching stops, Grubb was the architect of a Washington offense that produced the nation's best passer, Michael Penix Jr., in consecutive years. Grubb knows the program inside and out, is familiar with the recruiting landscape and will likely maintain the same philosophy that helped DeBoer succeed during his tenure. Ironically, Grubb actually turned down Alabama last offseason after meeting with Saban about the Crimson Tide's then-vacant offensive coordinator position.
Chris Klieman, Kansas State coach: DeBoer is recognized as a “winner,” which is exactly what Klieman has been throughout his coaching career. He led the Wildcats to the 2022 Big 12 title and has led the Wildcats to the AP Top 20 in each of the last two seasons. He won four FCS championships in his five seasons at North Dakota State (2014-18) after succeeding Craig Bohl, the architect of the Bison football dynasty. He knows how to be consistently successful in the spotlight. Plus, moving up from the Big 12 to the Big Ten would be a tall order for someone who has overcome all the challenges the coaching world throws at him.
Lance Leipold, Kansas coach: Like DeBoer, Leipold was a winner wherever he coached. He led Wisconsin-Whitewater – one of the most prestigious programs at the Division III level – to six national titles in eight seasons. He transferred to Buffalo, where he won two MAC East titles and was ranked 25th in the country in 2020. He took over Kansas, one of the worst programs in the country, and led the Jayhawks to two of the final bowl games three seasons. Kansas finished 9-4 last season with a win in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Think about it for a moment: He made Kansas relevant. Not many coaches can do that.
Jedd Fisch, Arizona coach: Fisch went 1-11 in 2021 in his first season with an Arizona team that was a post-Kevin Sumlin-era disaster. He quickly transformed the Wildcats into a 10-win team in 2023, ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25. In addition, he managed with massive injury problems and had to turn to redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Fifita, who took up the challenge and was named “Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year” with his performance. Not bad, right? The combination of Fisch's track record and the Big Ten resources available in Washington would make him a great addition for the Huskies.
Dave Clawson, Wake Forest coach: Clawson, the 2021 ACC Coach of the Year, has had notable success with the Demon Deacons, who weren't exactly known for their football prowess before his arrival. Its slow-paced offense led them to seven straight bowl games (2016-22) and helped former quarterback Sam Hartman become a superstar. Clawson's offense finished in the ACC's top four in six straight seasons (2017-22), and an improvement in overall team talent would make him a hit in Seattle.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State coach: It seems like Campbell is on every single list of candidates. However, a move to Washington makes perfect sense. He has six bowl appearances in eight seasons at Iowa State (2016-23) and develops rosters better than most coaches in the game. Even if Washington doesn't seem to be a geographical fit, the combination of the school's move to the Big Ten and Campbell's Midwest roots should at least earn him a call from Dannen.