Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer discusses 'noise' surrounding Michigan opening: 'No plans of talking with anyone'

Michigan Wolverines football is seeking a 22nd head coach in program history to replace the fired Sherrone Moore, and Alabama head man Kalen DeBoer is at the top of the list.

The 51-year-old released a statement Sunday afternoon regarding rumors surrounding his candidacy for the Michigan job, without actually naming the specifics he was responding to.

“I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job,” DeBoer said in a statement released through Yea Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s NIL collective. “I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”

Holding a Monday afternoon press conference to preview No. 9 seed Alabama’s matchup with No. 8 seed Oklahoma in Norman in the first round of the College Football Playoff Friday night, DeBoer was asked if he will be the Crimson Tide’s head coach next season.

Here’s the full exchange with a reporter:

Reporter: “Yeah, just for clarity’s sake, so things aren’t left up for interpretation, are you going to be the coach of Alabama next year?”

DeBoer: “Man, come on, Nick. Alright, I put a statement out yesterday, because I just … first of all, our guys handle distractions phenomenally. It’s been that way all season long. They continue to do that. But I also knew that yesterday and today are pretty important, and I wasn’t going to see you until today to address it. So, that’s why I put that out there.

“A lot of the same things I said a couple weeks ago when asked, really, the same question. I feel completely supported, my family loves living here. Just all of the things that we continue to build on, love the progress.

“I haven’t talked with anyone. No plans of talking with anyone. So, just, I think that’s a lot of what I said a couple weeks ago and continues to be the same thing. I feel strongly about it.

“Our guys, if there has been any distraction, I haven’t seen it, I haven’t felt it. So, I’m really proud of how they’ve handled whatever noise is out there.

“Probably all season long, we’ve dealt with enough noise to where it doesn’t surprise me on how they handle this.”

A few minutes later, another reporter followed up for an exact answer on whether or not he will be Alabama’s coach in 2026.

“Yeah, I plan on being, yes,” DeBoer said with a bit of a chuckle. “Nick, yes. Charlie, yes. Yes.”

In his second season with the Crimson Tide, DeBoer has a 19-7 record as Alabama’s coach. He went 25-3 in two years at Washington, leading the Huskies to the national championship game, where they fell to Michigan. DeBoer was 12-6 in two campaigns at Fresno State.