CFB Analyst Blasts Media for Disrespecting Kalen DeBoer With Hot Seat Coach Comparisons

In a world where coaching tenures are increasingly treated like fast food—fast, forgettable—Kalen DeBoer finds himself in the oddest of crossfires. After guiding Alabama to a 9-4 finish in his first year, DeBoer somehow became a punching bag for talking heads and message board fire-starters alike. The tide didn’t roll quite the same way Alabama fans were used to, yes. A shocking 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt on October 5 only added fuel to the critics’ fire. And bizarrely enough, some folks were even questioning his wardrobe like it had anything to do with red zone efficiency or third-down defense. Coach DeBoer deserves a lot more respect than he’s been given.

When the whispers of “hot seat” began circulating, they didn’t just question his fit in Tuscaloosa. They insulted his resume by stacking him up against a trio of SEC coaches who, frankly, don’t even belong in the same coaching zip code. Analyst Kangaroo Black didn’t hold back, torching those comparisons in a now-viral rant that felt less like a defense and more like a righteous sermon.

“I can’t take it no more because they put him in the company of Mark Stoops, Hugh Freeze, and Billy Napier. Are you freaking serious? Billy Napier, Mark Stoops, Hugh Freeze. Come on, man,” Black fumed. “Just compare the coaches. Coach Kalen DeBoer’s name shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as those coaches.”

He wasn’t done. With the precision of a linebacker reading a screen pass, Black dismantled the SEC peers one by one. “You can throw Sam Pittman in there too, okay? Because guess what? When it come to Arkansas, Sam Pittman—they ain’t done a damn thing since he been there. I understand Kalen DeBoer. Kalen won nine games last year. Went 9-4. But has Sam Pittman had a nine and four season at Arkansas? If he did, I don’t know about it, because I don’t remember Sam Pittman winning nine games—not one season—as the Arkansas head coach.” It’s a beatdown of lazy narratives. And Black is merely pointing out what those actually paying attention have seen: Kalen DeBoer is cut from a different cloth.

He didn’t stop at Sam Pittman. Black lit into Auburn’s embattled coach as well. “Don’t even get me on damn Hugh Freeze. You seen what Hugh Freeze did at Auburn? Hell, basically he done destroyed the Auburn football program. But Auburn fans thought he was going to be their savior. He was going to get them to the playoff. He was going to take them to the promised land.” Spoiler: He didn’t. And as for Florida’s Billy Napier?

“Billy Napier—I think he’s going into his fourth season at Florida. And granted, yeah, they had a pretty good season last season. I think they went 8-4 or some sh-t like that. I don’t know. 8-5. I don’t know. But I tell you what—Billy Napier at Florida ain’t did a damn thing. He ain’t had even a nine-win season yet.” Let’s not forget where DeBoer came from either. After dominating the Pac-12 at Washington, he arrived in Tuscaloosa surrounded by skepticism. Some predicted six wins. Others said 7-5 at best.

Coming from the Pac-12, many doubted his ability to recruit in the SEC. But “he proved you wrong when you was doubting, saying Alabama was going to go six and six, five and seven, seven and five. He proved you wrong in that,” Black emphasized. “And just because he didn’t win 10 games or make it to the playoff—oh, he got to be fired. He on the hot seat? No. No. Only a fool would think like that.” The logic holds: winning nine games while replacing a legend in Nick Saban isn’t failure. It’s foundational.

Those still doubting his ability, consider this: Kalen DeBoer boasts a .833 win percentage against AP Top-25 opponents over five seasons as an FBS head coach. That’s not only the highest among active coaches with at least 15 games vs. ranked foes—it blows the competition out of the water. Only seven active FBS coaches have a winning record in those games. DeBoer isn’t just on the list—he’s lapping the field. So, before you mention DeBoer’s name alongside perennial underachievers and rebuilders, take a breath and look at the numbers, the track record, and the context.

Kalen DeBoer’s climb: Why Bama’s new boss is a Top-10 coach

Kalen DeBoer hasn’t been in Tuscaloosa long, but the CFB world is already placing him among the game’s elite. According to the latest rankings, the new Alabama HC checks in at No. 7 overall—not too shabby for someone after their first year leading the Crimson Tide.

Now, let’s be real—filling the shoes of Nick Saban is no small task. But even with that pressure, there’s a strong wave of belief behind DeBoer. Why? Just look at the numbers. Over the past five seasons, DeBoer owns a 15-3 record against top-25 teams, a mark bettered only by Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day. That’s elite company.

What really sets DeBoer apart is his magic touch—everywhere he’s been, he’s left programs better than he found them. Whether as a coordinator or a head coach, he’s a culture shifter and a program elevator.

If DeBoer can bring Alabama back to the College Football Playoff and restore that classic Bama consistency, any lingering doubts will vanish. The Tide faithful expect greatness—and based on his resume so far, DeBoer just might deliver.