This story has been updated to include new information.
Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer on Sunday released a statement ahead of the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff opener against Oklahoma.
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The statement, released through Yea Alabama, the school’s NIL program, read:
“My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of President Mohler, Greg Byrne, the Board and so many others. We have an incredible opportunity in front of us, so my sole focus is on Alabama football and our preparations to play Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff.
“I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”
After the statement was made public, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also released a statement on DeBoer:
“We are proud to have Coach DeBoer leading our football program at The University of Alabama. He is an incredible coach and does an excellent job with the development of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. Just as he is committed to this team, we are committed to him, and we look forward to taking the field Friday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. #RollTide”
DeBoer had been the subject of recent speculation that he was a top candidate to replace Sherrone Moore at Michigan after the Wolverines abruptly fired Moore with cause for an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member” on Wednesday.
DeBoer had previously been discussed as a target for the Penn State opening, but he denied any interest in that job, as well. In two seasons at Alabama, DeBoer is 19-7 overall.
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He led Alabama to an at-large berth in the CFP with a 10-2 regular season that saw the Tide enter the SEC Championship Game as the conference’s No. 1 seed before a 28-7 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec. 6.
Kickoff for Alabama-Oklahoma is 7 p.m. CT Friday. The game will be televised on ABC and ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer issues statement about future
