Kalen DeBoer’s quick rise from NAIA to the University of Washington and the College Football national championship game put him in position to take over at Alabama after Nick Saban’s resignation.
Now the question is, who follows DeBoer at Washington? The Huskies just played in the title game, will be losing several big name players, including quarterback Michael Penix and will be joining the Big Ten next season.
Here are some names that could be in play for the Washington Huskies coaching position.
Related: Alabama Crimson Tide hiring rising star to replace Nick Saban as head coach
Ryan Grubb, Washington offensive coordinator
Grubb was the play caller for the Huskies this season, the person who worked the closest with quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
He could make this a smooth transition. Grubb coached with DeBoer at Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and Washington. That being said, there certainly is a chance he could follow DeBoer to Alabama and get his feet wet in the SEC before taking over a program. Then again, why? If he gets this job, it’s a great one.
Jamarcus Shephard, Washington Assistant head coach/receivers
The Huskies could stay in the building and promote Shepard, who will likely be sending multiple wide receivers to the NFL.
He had two receivers to get 1,000 yards – one of only three teams in the country to have that – Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, both of whom have decided to enter the draft, and Odunze could be a high first-round pick.
Shephard has been coaching college ball since 2011 at Western Kentucky and Purdue before joining the Huskies staff in 2022.
Related: College football poll: Early 2024 Top 25
Jamey Chadwell, Liberty coach
Chadwell led Liberty to a 13-0 regular season record and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl in his first season.
He has an overall six-year coaching record of 52-23, but is 44-7 in the past four years and had Coastal Carolina and Liberty ranked in the final Top 25 poll all four years. He has took Coastal Carolina to two bowls.
Joe Sloan, LSU quarterbacks coach
Sloan has been credited with molding Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels into one of the great college quarterbacks of the last few seasons. In two seasons working with Sloan, Daniels threw for nearly 6,000 yards and had 57 touchdown passes.
Sloan was and assistant at Louisiana Tech before going to LSU and those teams won nine games four times.