SEATTLE — The departure of Kalen DeBoer from the University of Washington this offseason left many fans disappointed, but newly revealed details about his contract with the University of Alabama may offer some insight into his decision.

The compensation committee of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees officially approved DeBoer’s contract earlier this week. The agreement stipulates that the 49-year-old will receive a minimum of $87 million over eight years, extending through 2033, with a final season salary of $11.75 million and $250,000 annual salary increments.

Additionally, the contract includes substantial bonuses for DeBoer based on achieving certain milestones, such as $600,000 for participating in a national championship game and $875,000 for winning a national title.

Comparing this to DeBoer’s $4.2 million earnings in his final season at UW, it becomes apparent why he chose to depart from the Huskies for a role that more than doubled his annual income.

Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne emphasized the importance of investing in high-caliber coaches for the department’s success. He highlighted the university’s commitment to supporting such investments through additional measures.

Jedd Fisch, who succeeded DeBoer at UW, also saw a significant salary increase by transitioning from the University of Arizona to the Huskies. Fisch’s earnings for 2024 with Washington are set at $7.5 million, a substantial rise from the $3.4 million he would have earned at Arizona.

While financial considerations played a significant role, reports from college football insiders, including Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, suggested that UW was willing to offer DeBoer a contract worth around $9 million annually. Moreover, DeBoer’s decision was likely influenced by the opportunity to coach at one of the most dominant programs in college football history and succeed Nick Saban, one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches.