🏈 🔵 How Kalen DeBoer Turned Washington Into National Championship Contenders In Two Years
I sat down with the Huskies head coach ahead of the Sugar Bowl to discuss his program's rapid ascension.
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How Kalen DeBoer Turned Washington Into National Championship Contenders In Two Years
Hey friends,
Since former Fresno State head coach Kalen DeBoer arrived at Washington two years ago, a theme of unparalleled consistency has echoed across his program’s confines.
The Huskies put together an 11-2 record behind quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s arm in 2022, leading to a No. 10 distinction in the AP Preseason Top 25.
While expectations were initially high, very few analysts pegged DeBoer’s bunch as viable championship contenders. However, with just five days until title Monday, Washington is one game away from claiming its third-ever national championship.
I sat down with DeBoer on Monday afternoon in New Orleans, Louisiana before his squad’s semifinal bout with Texas.
During our discussion, I took away three main points.
The first dealt with the composure and leadership of his star quarterback, Penix. Last season, the Indiana transfer compiled 4,641 passing yards and 31 touchdowns in 13 games off of an injury-riddled season with the Hoosiers.
His impressive output could’ve made him a highly sought-after NFL prospect. Instead, he returned to DeBoer’s program with a championship mentality at the forefront of his preseason preparation.
“I think he made a big time commitment to be here and a sacrifice to be here another year,” DeBoer told me. “And, when you make that type of sacrifice, you're doing it with the thoughts of being all in and everything. Not that he ever wasn't before, but he's just raised his leadership. He had the ability to be vocal, and a year ago it was different.”
Penix’s calm demeanor and gamer status made him the Sugar Bowl Offensive MVP, and for good reason.
On 38 passing attempts, Penix completed over 76% of his throws for 430 yards and two touchdowns. While roaming the sidelines during the game, a former NFL general manager sent me this message:
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Next, DeBoer reiterated the need for community buy-in to conjure a championship-winning unit.
Although his team’s 11-win output created preseason hype and excitement prior to week one, he knew his group had more to prove to make its desired leap into the four-team bracket.
Despite winning all 14 matchups, the Huskies entered four games as underdogs, including contests with Oregon State, Oregon (twice), and Texas.
Now, in the national championship, a similar storyline prevails. The Huskies currently sit as five-point underdogs to No. 1 Michigan.
“I think there was a lot of excitement at that time before the season, but I think we've been able to prove it,” DeBoer said in our interview. “We're just not someone that's just off maybe competing for a conference championship. We've done it. Now, when you're part of the Final Four, I think you're in another category. So, it's been awesome.”
The Seattle community has embraced DeBoer’s unit not only for their on-field production but how his team conducts itself off the gridiron.
DeBoer knows it’s easy to root for a team that has a Heisman Trophy runner-up at quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, and two 1,000-yard receivers.
But, he’s even more proud of how the Huskies have bought in as one team playing for the greater area centered around their campus.
“I think a lot of it has to do with our guys and how they embrace the community themselves,” DeBoer said. “They're just really easy to root for as a team [and] individuals on our team, and our community sees that. The partnership we share with our community has been really special.”
Lastly, to lead a cohesive unit like Washington, DeBoer talked about the importance of hiring and retaining an aligned staff.
Although Washington snuck into the College Football Playoff once before in 2016, the team’s appearance resulted in a 24-7 loss to Alabama.
Before DeBoer took the job, the Huskies won just four games in 2021. From there, he and his new staff had to make the climb back into the top 25, then the top 10, which led to the top four.
DeBoer recognized that between the three stages, the toughest leap to crack into is from the top 10 to the Final Four, resulting in a College Football Playoff berth.
Thanks to key staff pieces and elite coordinator retention in offensive play-caller Ryan Grubb, the Huskies have a chance to lift up the title trophy come Monday night.
“[The biggest thing] is probably a staff that just all is aligned,” DeBoer said. “And you know, just all on the same page and then that trickling down and building on that building a culture that is all just heading the same direction.”
“I hear so many comments about our team echoing what our coaching staff is saying, whether it be me or coordinators, and that's important to me,” he continued. “They feel it, and they're excited to be a part of it.”
To watch my full-length interview before the Sugar Bowl with DeBoer, click here.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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