Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer has been a costly decision for the Crimson Tide in more ways than one.

Calling for DeBoer to get fired after a 9-4 season in year one is simply irrational. Even for a fan base that’s used to being in the College Football Playoff like Alabama. Winning is hard and the way college football is now only makes it harder.

DeBoer and the Tide just missed out on the College Football Playoff and closed the year with a bummer of a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. In the meantime, DeBoer has been trying to stem losses via the transfer portal while trying to bring in his own transfers and build his recruiting classes.

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer didn't get much praise during the season, but he's doing a good job with player retention this offseason.

Let’s take a look at answering that question by handing out some grades for Alabama football in year No. 1 under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Kalen DeBoer had faced a locker room like the one he saw at the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday before. He saw it after Alabama football's road loss to Vanderbilt, its road loss to Tennessee and its road loss to Oklahoma.

Washington improved. It won 14 games in 2023, beating Texas again in the College Football Playoff in the Sugar Bowl before losing to Michigan in the CFP national championship game. Days later, DeBoer was named as Nick Saban's successor with Alabama football.

Here’s what Kalen DeBoer’s career has looked like in his second seasons as a head coach ahead of heading into year two at Alabama.