Surprise! Kalen DeBoer Brings A Huge Piece with Him

Alabama fans were excited to welcome in their new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide faithful showed up in packs at the Tuscaloosa National Airport to welcome the new era of Alabama football.

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Between choruses of Dixieland Delight and Yea Alabama, roll tide chants, and various cheering, the Alabama students and fans would chant the name of their new head coach and and commended athletic director Greg Byrne for the hire.

Alabama fans were in for a surprise when DeBoer was not the first individual off the plane, however. Washington Huskies general manager Courtney Morgan stepped onto the tarmac before the new coach.

Morgan was a three-year letterman at Michigan He played in 28 games and started 11 in his five seasons in Ann Arbor.  He had experience at all five offensive line positions and was a member of two Big Ten championship teams in 2000 and 2003. Morgan earned his degree in sports management and communications from Michigan in 2003.

Morgan is more than just a former player though. He was the director of player personnel for the Wolverines under head coach Jim Harbaugh during the 2021 season. Then, he took the same position at Washington just a year later.

The two teams that met on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship both had Morgan's fingerprints across them.

Key rotational pieces for Michigan's defensive line such as Kenny Grant and Mason Graham (who played 37 and 46 snaps in Monday's national championship, respectively) were heavily recruited by Morgan.

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (who played 74 snaps in the national championship), one of Michigan's best players, was another Morgan snag.

In CFP media availability, Johnson said "Courtney's the GOAT. He's one of the undercover guys doing things behind the scenes."

Morgan has a sharp eye for talent that may not necessarily be reflected in the ratings or offer lists. Morgan notices on-field strength vs. weight-room strength, notices techniques and attention to detail, and he's got several connections in the Southern California area from his time as a coach there.

Morgan then followed DeBoer to Washington, and just a year later, had to watch his current team line up against his alma mater in the national championship game. Players that Morgan had recruited were suddenly on the opposite sideline.

Morgan was the general manager of Washington, where he handled all aspects of recruiting and scouting operations for DeBoer at Washington.

It is unconfirmed at this time if Morgan will join DeBoer's staff, as the staff has not yet been officially confirmed. However, if he flew from Seattle, Washington to Tuscaloosa, Alabama with Coach DeBoer, then there is a decent chance that he is.

New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will address the media at 1:00 p.m. CT in his first press conference as the Crimson Tide head coach.

Tide 100.9 will have full coverage of Coach DeBoer's press conference and the start of his staff-building process as he gets started in his new position.