Ever since being hired in 2021 as head football coach for the University of Washington, Kalen DeBoer has done a fantastic job rebuilding the Huskies from a relatively average squad into a national championship contender.
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Yet, despite DeBoer's success, many people don't know that he was not only an incredible college football player but also an even better baseball player back in his day.
In the Natty they tell your entire life story. The Kalen DeBoer story is great. Can’t wait for people to realize @KalenDeBoer as a wide receiver set school records for receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions and oh yeah he hit .520‼️as a senior baseball player at @USiouxFalls.
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) January 2, 2024
Before DeBoer's coaching career began, he attended college at the University of Sioux Falls, in his home state of South Dakota, from 1993-1996. While there, DeBoer put together an acclaimed football career as a wide receiver, setting school records for receptions (234), receiving yardage (3,400) and touchdown catches (33), earning All-American honors.
What's more, DeBoer also played baseball there as an outfielder. In his senior season, DeBoer hit for an eye-popping .520 batting average, to go along with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs.
Somehow, that borderline-unbelievable batting average didn't get DeBoer drafted into the minor leagues — which didn't stop him from continuing to play baseball post-grad. After leaving Sioux Falls in 1998, DeBoer played one season for the Canton Crocodiles, which was an independent minor league baseball team (meaning, it isn't affiliated with any MLB organization) that was once part of the Frontier League and played its games in Canton, Ohio.
During his one season with the Crocodiles, DeBoer played in 24 games, had 102 plate appearances, and hit for a .272 average with one home run, nine RBIs and five stolen bases.
Apparently, the one season of baseball was enough for DeBoer. He hung up the cleats after that 1998 season and returned to Sioux Falls, becoming an assistant football coach at Washington High School — thus starting his coaching career at a slightly less prestigious "Washington" school than the one he's currently at.
After coaching at Washington High, DeBoer went through a string of coaching promotions and advancements. Those included time spent as the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Sioux Falls; and as the head football coach for Fresno State, prior to being hired by the University of Washington.
One wonders whether DeBoer ever considered becoming a baseball coach after his time as a Canton Crocodile came to a close. Yet, considering his team is playing in the national championship game next week, he clearly made the right choice by choosing football instead.
