CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: WASHINGTON VS MICHIGAN

January 6, 2024

Kalen DeBoer

NRG Stadium

Washington Huskies

Press Conference

Q. To bring up the contract thing again, would you have liked to have gotten that out of the way? Has that been at all something that you would have liked to have gotten out of the way as opposed to it hanging over a national championship?

KALEN DEBOER: No, I'm good. Just because I just got a new contract a year ago. And I think a lot of it, I just don't want the distraction. Don't want the distraction during this time of year. I think before the season, after the season is when you really like to iron out details.

I'm really appreciative of Troy Dannen and a lot of it with him coming in as the new athletic director. He wants to make sure I understand I'm a priority, and I certainly feel like I'm a priority based on conversations getting started and a lot of the talk with the contract being a big piece of that.

I feel like I'm in a great place, and obviously we're focused on everything that's been happening here in December -- Pac-12 Championship, Sugar Bowl and national championship.

Q. Your daughter is about to start at Washington, or like next year?

KALEN DEBOER: Yeah, she's a senior in high school right now. So next summer, fall she'll report there.

Q. Describe how you came to be such an aggressive play caller, coach. You make a lot of fourth-down decisions that maybe some people wouldn't make. Just curious how you develop that and where it came from and where the affirmation in your mind is when you make those calls?

KALEN DEBOER: I think there's a lot of people that are much more aggressive than I am. But I think it's just picking and choosing the right times. A lot of it you understand the percentages and the chances, and of course there's a million different ways to look at the analytics of everything and what you should do. For me, there's a piece of that, but it's also where we are at in the game and your gut instinct.

Obviously, you're trusting in the game plan and you're trusting in the calls that your coaches are going to make. And, of course, most importantly, you're trusting the execution of your guys.

We talk about it all offseason, even in spring ball, just being ready to play four downs on defense, being ready to make an opportunity happen on fourth down offensively.

So we practice it a lot in every scrimmage we have -- spring, fall camp. And obviously the game situations, we're working on that a lot of the times, to be confident in those moments.

Q. Is that something that you do based on who you have on the team, like, obviously it's different to call some of those plays when Michael Penix is your quarterback versus other guys? Or is it this is my philosophy, this is what I want to do?

KALEN DEBOER: There's no question. Your ability to make those plays because of the trust have you in your players, but also just kind of, if you don't execute and you don't convert, you're putting your defense in a spot that is pretty tough sometimes. And so I think having a trust in them that this tough spot they're going to be in, if it doesn't go the way it's supposed to, isn't going to break them, that they're just going to go out and take the field and do everything they can to ease the pain if that's the way it goes, and go make the next play.

And if it's in our own territory, make sure it's nothing more than a field goal. And if it's happening on the other end of the field, just let's get a three-and-out and let's get the ball back to the offense, that there's no harm, no foul.

Just I think a lot of it has to do with the trust of your players. And, again, we have a very mature crew, both offensively and defensively, that can handle it and be in those moments and be able to not be overwhelmed by the situation, just go out and execute.

Q. What is Dillon Johnson's status for Monday night?

KALEN DEBOER: We're expecting him to play. So we're expecting him to play. He's been through this over the last couple of months, and he hasn't missed any time there. He's had a good week getting back healthy.

Q. No one is 100 percent this time of year, is that --

KALEN DEBOER: I think that's how it is for a lot of our guys. I'm sure Michigan has the same thing. A lot of guys that aren't 100 percent. But he's headed in a good direction here this week as we get ready for kickoff.

Q. Obviously you had an incredible run at Sioux Falls, and 10 years later you're a Power Five head coach. What's been most transferable going from NIAA to the Power Five level?

KALEN DEBOER: Transferrable?

Q. Yes.

KALEN DEBOER: I'd say just working with people. Football is football. I think there's just the number of people that help you with the details and from the breaking down of film to the game planning. But when it comes down to it, football is football.

And working with people has also just been a transferrable piece of it where you want to empower your staff. You want to empower your team to be able to go out there and have a great atmosphere that facilitates an environment they want to be a part of.

That's a lot of the pieces, just making the time that they have together enjoyable, trying to pull out the best in each of them, tap into each other's strengths. To me it's just a lot of how you build confidence going throughout the year, going throughout the week, leading up to a game that gives you the opportunity to go out and be successful on game day.

Q. You look across college football, there's yourself who had such success in NIAA. There's Lance Leipold who won national championships in Division III. And you've led some incredible turn around at the Power Five level. Do you think that people should, do you think people give enough to the success that you guys have and coaches have at that level?

KALEN DEBOER: There's so many great coaches at the small college level. I'm certainly great friends with Lance and he's done an amazing job. And at that level you're wearing a lot of hats. You're doing a lot of different things.

I think as you go through the different levels, you have an appreciation for what those small-college days are like and everything that you have now compared to then.

But there's so many great just people, but great coaches that they just stay the course and keep working, maybe catch a break here and there. There's no doubt that they can get to moments like we have right now.

Q. You coached Michael Penix for a year at Indiana. Why did you think when you got to Washington that he was the right guy to join you you there? And when he got there, did you guys just pick up right where you left off?

KALEN DEBOER: My familiarity with Michael made it really easy because I knew who he was as a person. I knew he was a guy that was very competitive. I knew he was someone who just really cared about his teammates.

I knew he had been through a lot of challenges, unlike most other people, and he still was fighting. Just saw a lot of those things above and beyond the arm talent, the athletic ability, all those things that I got a chance to work with him for one year on.

I knew he was a guy that could come in here and do exactly what he's doing. And I don't say that arrogantly; that's all on Michael. That's a human compliment to just everything that he stands for and what his ability level is when it comes to processing defenses, getting the ball where it needs to be and leading a football team.

And I knew he had that part in him. It's just really cool to see his growth and see him come so far and just take over this program.

I think even just managing a fan base and working with them and embracing a fan base, probably the best way to say it. I'm just really proud of how he's handled all of it, and his story is special. And it's because he's a special guy.

Q. It wasn't long ago you were at Eastern Michigan, right on the doorstep of Ann Arbor. How different your are dreams now than back when you were first starting out at Eastern?

KALEN DEBOER: It's a whole different place that we're in right now. Playing to be the number one team in the country. As far as just the mindset of the day to day and all that, not a lot.

I mean, I loved being around the people I was with. Chris Creighton is an amazing person. I cried my eyes out when I left that place. The morning I spoke with him and he understood that this was an opportunity to go to Fresno at that time it was good for me and my family.

But that was a hard place to leave because there were so many great people that I surrounded myself with. Now, to me that's the key. It's wherever you go, the people make it what it is.

And so as far as the dreams and things like that, the dreams of being at the top of your level and winning the championships, whether that's a MAC championship or Pac-12 championship, a Big Ten championship, a national championship now, you're aspiring to try to be at the highest level you can possibly get to against the most competitive people out there. That's what makes this fun. So embracing something like that right now is something I'm certainly enjoying.

Q. Has the magnitude of this game hit you yet?

KALEN DEBOER: It's been a quick turnaround. In all honesty. I've tried to make sure that our guys realize the moment they're in, have some perspective because it's going to come and go real fast. Seven days from Sugar Bowl to national championship. I think last year it was a few more days than what it is now.

We've spent some time in the air from New Orleans to Seattle and back to here. But I've tried to really make sure and be intentional that this moment is special.

It's really great when you're in playoff football when you know when your last game is going to be. And you can have a moment here, a moment there where you can really appreciate how far we've come, whether it's this year or over the last two years.

And in the end, though, someone's going to be a national championship, and that's the greatest piece of it all is making sure you're putting in all the preparation. We're diving into all that but the preparation is what's going to lead to the success on game day.

Q. What's it like seeing guys like Mike Hart and Jack Tuttle on the other side? And what was it like being with them at Indiana?

KALEN DEBOER: Those are great guys. Mike, it was a blast working with him at Indiana and being in that staff room every day. There's a reason why he's been successful throughout his entire journey and is where he is right now.

And he's a great friend. Obviously we're strong competitors here this week. But there will be a point in time where we can look at each other, talk with each other and congratulate each other on such a great year this year.

We've done that at different times throughout the year. Text message here, text message there, just to say, hey, watching you and great job. Keep it going.

But a lot of the reason why I always feel I'm at a place is because of the people I'm around. And the opportunity to go to Fresno and the opportunity to come to Washington, after being at Indiana, was because the people I had around me. And Mike Hart was a major, major piece of that.

Jack was as well. He's a guy that no matter what his role was, he was ready to accept it, own it, and was going to go out and give everything he had.

I know even after I left, there were times he was playing through pain with his team there. And just trying to get on the football field, do whatever he could to make his team the best it could be. And I'm looking forward to seeing him after the game and congratulating him on his journey as well.

Q. Do you think back to that 2019 and 2020, when you were on those two Indiana teams? A lot of people from those teams are here in this game. What's that say about kind of what was in place at Indiana back in the time?

KALEN DEBOER: I mean, there was great people there. And it made it enjoyable and that led to a lot of work getting done and the work led to success. And so when you have fun doing your job and you have fun coming to practice every day as a player -- that's what we had there. That's why you see so many successful people and guys doing the things that they're doing.

So a lot of guys that have done some great things moving on in their careers.

Q. What do you think it means for the sport, if anything, to have the first title game in nine years without any team from the South?

KALEN DEBOER: I guess I don't get caught up in that. For us, it was our personal goal to get here and we were going to play whoever we had to play in the semifinals and whoever was next. And that's Michigan right now. We're just blessed to be in this position to be able to play the game.

So I think it says a lot about the parity of college football and how many teams could be in this spot. I think that was something that was noted, I think, especially in the latter half of the season as undefeated teams still were holding on, and that next wave of maybe one-loss teams was really strong and doing well.

So it says a lot about college football that you have different teams finding their ways to get to this game.

Q. Just asked Rome about this. He said he's not the type of receiver that asks for the ball. But in almost every clutch situation this year the ball went his way. What's that mean to have a receiver of his caliber deliver in the biggest moments of the season?

KALEN DEBOER: I would say that's very accurate. I can't think of a time he's ever come to the sideline and requested getting the ball to him. I think that's a lot of trust from him to Coach Shephard and Coach Grubb, all of us, just that he's a priority and the ball will find him.

And just good decisions and good choices by Michael when he finds the opportunity to get Rome in those big moments. And then also good game planning and good play calling by Coach Grubb and just the offensive staff working together to make sure Rome's in those spots in the big moments.

I think it also helps that he's got other guys around him that take away from maybe him getting double-teamed all the time. Certainly people are conscious of where he's at quite often, especially in those big times, but Jalen McMillan and Ja'Lynn Polk and the rest of the crew of receivers, tight ends and running backs certainly help our whole offense click, especially in the big moments.

Q. So this is year 10 for the CFP. It's going to be the last game played in this format. What's it mean for you to be at this last game?

KALEN DEBOER: I think there's a lot as far as who the final four teams were that got in. And there always be questions on those bubble teams as far as getting to a playoff, and I don't care what it is -- the NCAA basketball tournament, the football playoffs -- but there will be more teams that have a great chance of getting to the championship that will have a chance to be in the playoff.

So getting in was a big piece of us being able to get to this moment today. It means a lot that we're just here today playing in this national championship game.

Q. When Michael made the decision to transfer and arrived on campus, how did he go about earning the trust of his new teammates? And was that a process that you were able to help him with along?

KALEN DEBOER: I didn't have to say much. I just reassured him everything I kind of felt from the players already. And that it was through December as I'm meeting with him and understanding that this is a really, really good group of guys. They really want to win badly. If you want to come in and just do the work and you're just a good dude they're going to embrace you, they're going to accept you.

And that fit everything that Michael is as far as being a hard worker, a guy that is just a fun guy to hang around as a teammate.

And he just came in and did all those things, and they opened their arms to him and he opened his arms to them as well. And it's just been awesome seeing everything come together.

That happened very quickly, and then this year seeing him embrace that role of the team really following his lead and understanding that he's our quarterback, and him not taking that for granted.

He is very intentional on making sure that the team understands how much he appreciates them. And that's why we're here is because of his leadership and all the team coming together around him, with him. And it's led to great moments where everyone believes in each other and wants to be something special.

Q. Obviously you don't need extra motivation at this stage, but how much do you feel the dynamic of this being the last year of the Pac-12 and kind of the whole western part of the country kind of getting behind you guys to kind of represent for what was the conference for so long?

KALEN DEBOER: I think maybe I felt that kind of leading up to the Pac-12 championship that this was the one that we were going to have as far as a championship game. And then just us representing the Pac-12, especially going to the final four here.

I will say, I think now this week, honestly, it's probably us just focused on us and just trying to do everything we can to be ready to go win a national championship and us representing UW.

But I know we're proud of where we come from and the conference we represent and everything that has led to us having our success this year. We got put through the wringer with our conference schedule playing a lot of good teams. I think it helped us prepare for a semifinal game. And it will have helped us prepare for this championship game on Monday.

Q. Your thoughts about the college in general? You talked about the Pac-12 and the transfer portal, guys transferring before the bowl game; NIL, teams switching conferences. Is it too much too soon? Your thoughts?

KALEN DEBOER: There's a lot happening, and I think it will never end. There's going to be something. It might not be that conference alignment is maybe hot at the time or something kind of gets tweaked with the portal and all that. There is a lot going on.

I think that the coaches, the programs that can continue to evolve with the times and adjust, those are the ones that are going to be most successful.

But I don't have a perfect answer on what the fix is. Certainly willing to be a part of committees or whatever it might be to talk through and working with the coaches across the country to make the little tweaks year to year that need to be done and to try to stay away from those unfortunate situations that have popped up -- not just this year, but in the past couple of years.

Q. You talked about trust and having familiar faces around you to work with. With this particular group this season, when did it all kind of like step up and says, oh, this is different; we're ready to go now, getting to this point, the trust factor? The trust factor in this group as far as staff, players, everybody believing in each other.

KALEN DEBOER: I think our trust amongst everyone is extremely high. I think that's something that's been built over time. I think it's something that the coaching staff was very intentional with, and a lot of it has to do with good communication, good organization.

And showing the path to our players that we felt it would take and them being open to being coached, being critiqued. Our job as coaches is to get feedback to these guys. And that feedback sometimes isn't something they want to hear. But they've always been open to it because their goals of getting to a national championship and playing for championships and being that caliber of a team, they understood that they had to always improve.

If you're going to improve, you've got to trust your coaches, the things that they're asking you to do, things they're asking to you focus on, areas where you need to get better.

So it goes both ways. Our coaches really trust our players, believe in them, not just what happens on the football field, but just what happens off and who they are as people.

It's really made it a lot of fun because we can enjoy these moments that they're getting to go through, these experiences that they'll never forget and the relationships that have been built that will last forever.

Q. And the expansion of the CFP next season, teams that didn't get in -- felt they deserve to be in, but now the expansion next season, talk about what that will mean to everyone.

KALEN DEBOER: More opportunities with more teams getting in. And so that's a big piece for everyone to get those chances and opportunities.

Q. What was the travel schedule like, decision maybe not to stay down South and go over to Houston, you decided to go back to Seattle and come back down here, what kind of went into deciding how to travel for this game, knowing it was a little bit different?

KALEN DEBOER: There's pros and cons, I think, to staying and going. For us, I think it was a lot of different things, not just with this team but also some of the stuff we had going on with a quarter-system school and some transfers, high school early enrollees that were coming in; we had 11 guys there that were already taking classes.

I think it had to do with familiarity with just our training staff and getting ready.

Our guys having the weight room that we're used to lifting in and the efficiency of the operation at least while we're there. Not that it couldn't have been done here in Houston, but I think getting back there and then also I think it just put a mindset in us that we've got to work, we've got to put in these two days of work, which we did. We practiced twice.

And got a chance to hop on a plane yesterday afternoon. Tried to work some things as far as logistics with our coaching staff to be able to maximize their time and game plan in both getting them home early and also getting them here a little bit later in the evening with the football team.

Q. You talked about preparing. It was a normal seven-day week, although it feels it was a little bit faster in unique circumstances. But as you get prepared in this number one total defense in Michigan, I think there's a misconception that the Pac-12 didn't have teams that had the physical nature like a Michigan, did you fall back on any of those games? If you did, which opponents did you watch to try to maybe take something from knowing they play a similar style?

KALEN DEBOER: I don't know if we needed to watch our opponents as much. I mean in a week like this, you're just focused on Michigan more so.

But I think some of our opponents and what we've done against them gives us a lot of confidence on both sides of the ball that we play physical football.

We've felt many different times that maybe that respect wasn't there, that we were that type of team and had this type of physicality about us. But we proved that I think multiple times.

So there are many games that from an Oregon twice to I think Utah and a few others. And Texas last week was extremely physical.

I think a lot of those games, and there's even more you can draw on, to trust and believe that that's who we are. We understand that Michigan is extremely prideful in playing that style of football, and they do it very, very well. So we've got to be at our best certainly.

Q. You have one of the most experienced rosters in football. What's that afford you as a coach in terms of flexibility to install stuff and your flexibility to scheme as well?

KALEN DEBOER: I think what we're installing, I don't know what the percentage would be, but a lot of it is something in some way that we've done over the last probably two years here with our guys.

So a little bit of familiarity. Show them a clip from something we did and why it's something we feel is a good part of a game plan for this week, it triggers them and like, oh, yeah, here we go, we've done this.

We do a lot of stuff on both sides of the ball. But it's done in a way where we can come back to it very quickly. And it all fits our DNA as who we are offensively, defensively and special teams.

So it does help that we are a mature group. But the concepts are the concepts. It usually falls into families for us and we can draw on that very quickly with installation.

Q. Do older players tend to pick up things faster?

KALEN DEBOER: Oh, yeah, I mean, there's more experiences. They've done something in some form or fashion that's related to maybe what we're trying to install throughout their careers.

Most of it is probably within the last two years but there might be something that goes back even three, four, five years ago. And it's just that much quicker for them to kind of recall it and be able to go out there and execute it well.

Q. This is obviously a big moment for you, your players, the program in general. Has it been difficult to ground your team going into Monday's game? Or what have those conversations been like?

KALEN DEBOER: It really hasn't. I think going back to the middle of the year, beating Oregon, that was a big game. That was emotional at home. The way we won it.

And I think the experiences we've had ever since then -- what I've seen from the team is we get in the locker room -- and this includes last weekend -- there's excitement. There's a ton of smiles. There's a lot of pictures being taken. All that good stuff.

But it's not this chaotic, you know, envision like those championship teams where the Champagne is flowing by those professional sports. It is a very business-like, understand that the next step is the most important one now and kind of checking the boxes throughout the year. That's what this team is.

I think they're focused on this championship and not getting ahead of themselves and understanding that the work is the work. And in order for us to realize a championship, we have to make sure we're putting in the time.

And so keeping them grounded, this group, really has not been hard all year. And that's why I have a lot of trust that they've been grounded and you could just tell by the reactions and things in practice that they're pretty focused in making this more about a business trip than anything.

Q. Two questions on Dillon. First one, he said he's ready to rock and roll. Do you expect to use him in full as you would any week?

KALEN DEBOER: As he is right now, yes. As you go through the game you adjust. But that's how it's been with him really the last couple of months of the season here. So as of right now, yes.

Q. And what's the moment like, the human in you sees a player get hurt, you obviously have that emotion. The clock issue was critical to the game. As you're processing that moment, what is that like when you reflect back on it?

KALEN DEBOER: Well, in that game, I mean, if there's one thing about our guys, we probably error to a fault on guys trying to get off the field and not laying there.

And so when I know that someone's on the field, they're hurt. And so the feeling naturally is for these guys you love so much. And Dillon would be someone who has put so much into this program. He's going to do anything he can to get off that football field. And obviously he couldn't at that time. So your heart goes out to him.

And obviously there's a piece like, this is our starting tailback and stuff like that and feeling like we got a chance to win a football game and what lies ahead. But first and foremost, it's all about him as a person and his health. That's what I was feeling at that time.

Q. Thinking about Michael in particular, what was something that made him someone you wanted to have as part of your program? And how has he kind of helped drive that business-like ethos you mentioned?

KALEN DEBOER: Two things I can think of. There's many. But it would be who he is as a person. And obviously the skill set that he brings along with his talents and all that.

So I just knew that he's a guy you could build a team around, that production-wise would go out give you everything you needed throwing a football, running an offense, leading a football team.

But as a person he's a guy you're willing and never going to question having out front and center in moments like this out in the community, anything. He's just going to speak well. He's going to know what to say and how it always brings our team closer together.

Q. How has he driven that business-like ethos that you mentioned?

KALEN DEBOER: The entire year, starting a year ago, he made a decision to come back. I think a lot of people thought he was going to move on and go on to the NFL. He made the decision to come back. That showed a lot of people how serious he was, mostly our team about winning a championship and doing something well above and beyond what we did a year ago and also believing that it could happen.

And the work he's put in supports those goals and aspirations that he's had for over a year now. And the last month, I just feel like he's been on another level, just nothing is sliding by him, for sure. But nothing's sliding by our offense, our football team. We talk about being grounded as a football team, man, he's one of the guys that's leading the charge as much as anyone.

Q. You have a quarterback who has been in college now for six seasons. We're seeing that at a lot at different places. Do you think that's at all an issue you have maybe a 24-, 25-year-old guy playing against, just talk about physical maturity, against a guy who may be 18 or 19 years old? Or is that one of those things, considering how conditioned and training is, just not that big a deal anymore?

KALEN DEBOER: I guess I don't feel like there's many of those guys out there now. The sixth-year piece is a result of the COVID year. And we'll slowly be kind of weaning off of that time here each and every year. I don't think it's going to be something that is going to be really a major impact for us.

Yeah, we have quite a few six-year guys on our team. I think it's helped us. I think the maturity is as much as anything. You could look at it a couple of ways, right? Their bodies are getting older, more mature. There is a difference between that and an 18-year-old, for sure.

These guys might be more in their prime physically, but I also think that there's some amazing young guys that can step on the football field.

And each program has got to do what they have to do. You've got to do what you can to be the best you can. For us this year having a lot of upperclassmen has been beneficial to our success. But we're working extremely hard to develop our young guys.

And their are opportunities to get on the football field have been quite frequent as well. I guess I've never felt like that gap in age right now is something that I'm concerned about.

Q. You've talked a little bit about guys like Michael coming back for the sixth year, but talk to me a little bit what you've done from a buy-in standpoint as far as what culture goes and what you do for guys like Rome coming back for senior year and Michael coming back for a sixth year. What are you doing at Washington that makes this program have such a draw?

KALEN DEBOER: I think there's a couple of things. I think, number one, there's a trust in these players that they're going to continue to be developed. They have the aspirations and know that the NFL is just around the corner and that opportunity exists.

So they personally understand that if they continue to work because of the trust of the strength staff, the nutrition staff, our coaching staff, that they'll continue to develop and be even better which will raise their opportunities for the NFL.

I think the second piece is their experiences. We're providing experiences. We're providing a piece of their journey during a window that can come and go very quickly when it comes to playing college football. And this journey that they're on, they realize that, man, this is special, and I don't want to miss out.

And these guys, the guys that are going to stick around next year, a lot of it is for those two reasons as well -- the development and the journey and wanting to live in the moment and make this moment last as long as possible. Because there's going to be a point in time when football is gone and real life starts to happen.

I think those are the main two things on why the guys have done what they've done and why our culture is built the way it is up to this point.

Q. Talk to me a little bit about how you expect the culture to evolve entering the Big Ten next year with a slew of national opponents.

KALEN DEBOER: I think it's just always challenging ourselves to be our best. And our coaching staff will continue to evaluate the recruiting areas and things like that. We'll also be West Coast-based with our footprint but there's other opportunities that may come about.

We have a lot of connections with our coaching staff having a lot of Midwest and Big Ten former coaches on it already. And so we have a lot of confidence. I think our players will have a lot of confidence in that.

But we're always going to challenge ourselves to be our best. And it isn't just about the Big Ten; it's about the evolution of your team and college football and trying to do what you need to do to beat the people at the top of the mountain and competing with them.

Q. You speak of Midwest coaches, one being Eric Schmidt that followed you to Fresno State and obviously to Washington. Covered him in North Dakota. How have you seen him develop as a coach over the years since his days there?

KALEN DEBOER: Eric's done a great job for us. I got a chance to coach with him 2010 to 2013 at Southern Illinois. And very quickly recognized that the guy's relentless hard worker. Very smart. Special teams-wise, works hand in hand with our defensive staff to put an awesome game plan together.

He's going to go on and do great things. Our whole team and our whole coaching staff is extremely proud and happy for him that he's going to get an opportunity to go be a DC here this next year again.

And so just seeing his growth, I think, it's just a lot of verification and a lot of little just minor tweaks here and there. Seeing it done another way, seeing it done at the highest level, I think those are things that can never hurt you. And I know that's going to help him be successful at his next opportunity here very shortly.

Q. I'm sure there's a lot, but if you had to pick just one thing that was the most important factor in Michael taking his game to another level this year, what would it be?

KALEN DEBOER: He's never going to have any regrets. And so no regrets when it comes to leadership and wishing he would have said something and not said it. No regrets when it comes to putting in an extra hour of routes in in the summer knowing that it's going to pay off at some point in a year in a big throw, in a big moment.

I think him having perspective on all of this and not having regrets with how he handles people, the different moments that come about. I know that's a bigger picture thing when I say no regrets, but it hits all the areas.

Just being all in, 100 miles an hour. He's just really been able to balance all of the things that are expected of him as a leader of a top, now two team in the program with what his focus and goals are of winning a championship and being the best he can be.

Q. Obviously a lot of the country is still learning about you, learning about your program. You're very soft-spoken. I've had a couple of players tell me you never raise your voice. Why?

KALEN DEBOER: There's a couple times. I mean, I appreciate them protecting me here a little bit. But I think when you do have those selective moments, then they realize like, okay, it's real serious.

But I just feel like they know that we're fighting the same fight as the coaching staff, and I want the same thing for them that they want for themselves. And they know we're pouring and trust and believe that our coaching staff is pouring everything into them.

And we're in this together. So there are emotional times, there are things. But I feel it's who I am, and I have to be who I am as a person. Trying to be consistent, that's just my leadership way of doing things. That's who I am as a person.

And if I was going to do things that were out of character, then I think they would lose their consistency as well as far as the expectations and accountability. And those big moments, I think, hopefully there's a piece where their trust and their consistency and all those things have helped them get through it to where they're not emotional or overwhelmed in the moment; they can just focus in on what we talk about each and every day and that's their job and trusting the guy next to him and trusting our coaches are going to make the right calls and make the right decisions and choices.

Q. Question about Courtney. He mentioned if he was not the first call you made when you got the job here, one of the first. And what was it about him? Why did you need him here and what has he brought to it?

KALEN DEBOER: Courtney was there with us in 2020 at Fresno State. And it's probably still one of the hardest years of coaching ever in my life. I think it showed a lot about people during that year, during those times.

And that's a big part of why I brought a lot of the staff with me to Washington is because I saw what these people were made of.

And Courtney, his work ethic and his willingness, his ability to adjust during those times when you couldn't have guys coming to campus. You couldn't have coaches going off campus, it just said a lot about who he was as a person.

You're right, he was one of the first. Had a couple of coordinators that I felt like I needed, from strength and conditioning and offensive coordinator and coordinators on the staff to get on board. But within 30 minutes, all those calls happened and Courtney was at the top of that list.

I just knew his relentless work ethic was going to be something that was going to help us bring the right guys in. I understood his connections and just how he handles people. It's what I wanted our program to be associated with and how I wanted to be perceived.

And he probably touches more people out there than anyone on our staff. He's constantly on the phones. He's constantly texting and communicating with people. And so he's a major representative of our program.

And he does a great job communicating what we do to those people we're trying to bring in. And I think his core values fit my core values. And so it was just a great fit.

We wouldn't be here without him. And we're just super happy that he chose to come back to the West Coast here and be with us.

Q. Did you think you were going to struggle to convince him to leave his alma mater?

KALEN DEBOER: Yeah, I did. He just moved out a year ago. But I also knew that we had become very close very quickly. Just like I'm sharing what I saw in him during those tough times in 2020, I think he saw that in me and the other coaching staff, the rest of the coaching staff that's here, that we could fight through anything, that we were going to be there for each other and we were going to have a lot of fun doing it on this journey that we're on.

Q. In the Sugar Bowl, what specifically did you do to neutralize T'Vondre Sweat, an Outland Trophy winner, and contain those two first- or second-round draft Texas receivers?

KALEN DEBOER: We certainly had to be conscious and intentional in game planning around a lot of different pieces of their team. But fortunately we have an offensive line that's pretty good.

And they did a good job working in coordination with Michael and I thought a great game plan by Coach Grubb and our offensive staff to be able to move the pocket and do different things to not be able to be just a sitting target back there when it comes to Michael and protecting him.

And I would say Michael, at the moments when he had to, made great decisions to check protections, and he also did an amazing job with his feet.

He side-stepped a couple times, scrambled, knew when to throw the football away, managed the game well. Being behind the chains is never something you want, but against a team like that, that was certainly the case. That would be a big part of our focus again against Michigan here.

But we moved the pocket and did a lot of different things to not allow them to tee off on us. It was still a struggle to run the football. That's certainly understood.

And I think from the other side of it, their receivers, I thought we did a good job just knowing their concepts. Had a lot of time to really hone in on what they do best, and that's a lot of times focused on their personnel, first of all, and how they wanted to get different guys the ball in space or down the field.

And I think our DBs did a really nice job accepting that challenge.

Q. Leading up to probably your biggest day on the job, how much do you think about your first day on the job?

KALEN DEBOER: At Washington? It hasn't been a whirlwind because in the end you look back and there's been a lot of stuff that's happened. But what a special moment that was to be introduced as the head football coach.

I don't know if you've ever been up in our area there, our offices, but it overlooked the stadium which overlooks Lake Washington, which overlooks -- not overlooks but you can see the Cascades in the background. It's as beautiful a setting as you're ever going to see. So kind of pinching myself at the time.

But also knowing that a lot of hard work had come to getting to that moment and that a lot of hard work was going to be necessary for us to do what we knew -- what I knew this program was capable of at the time.

I had seen it back in 2017 at Fresno State as an offensive coordinator. That was a year after the semifinal team of 2016. And I saw a stadium that was rocking, that was causing a lot of problems when it comes to just having to get a snap count off with any sound at all. It was an amazing environment.

I didn't know a lot about the city but I knew about the tradition of the program, knew it went deep. It wasn't just a couple of years. It was decades.

It was cool, very quickly, seeing the passion that the entire community has for the Dogs. And of course we've seen that ever since then with our success in the big moments we've had.

Q. When the whole Big Ten thing was going on, how looped in were you on just the machinations of it? Was there a day or two where you were worried that this might not be a job anymore where you could win a national championship?

KALEN DEBOER: Why wouldn't I not be worried? I guess I never felt like that would be a situation whether we were in the Pac-12 or the Big Ten.

I think Washington football -- and I give a lot of credit to our prospects in the summer last year that were being recruited and knew that there were some things that were still up in the air as far as what could happen with the Pac-12 and the media piece that was still kind of out there and getting worked through.

And I, along with the staff, just continue to say focus on U-Dub. Focus on the tradition. Focus on how great our academics are. Focus on the market that we have here in the Seattle area. Focus on all those things that make us different than most of the other programs in the country.

And that kind of led to, I think, us feeling like no matter where we're at, we're going to be okay. And so that gave us a piece of mind to where really I wasn't stressed about that.

As far as kind of what was happening in those days or weeks, however long it was, there wasn't a lot that I needed to be aware of because I think kind of just the way we operate is if you need to know, we'll talk about it.

But it was back and forth so much as far as which direction and how things were going. And for even a big part of it, it seemed like it was set to where the Pac-12, we were going to be a part of it and, okay, here we go.

But I think really it was right at the very end, the day everyone else kind of found out is kind of the day that for me it really became a reality as well.

So small tidbits just because I would ask, hey, what's going on. And not because there was really any information to give, but more because the coaching staff might ask, and I needed to know if there was something that needed to be communicated to prospects because they kept asking as well.

I didn't want to be blatantly lying to their face or not being able to give the best information I possibly could to help them feel good about their choices they were making to be a U-Dub football player.

Q. What will you miss about the Pac-12? Is it kind of sad? It's coming off to its best years and moving on.

KALEN DEBOER: There's a few games obviously that will still take place with the California schools and Oregon. So some of those natural rivalries and games and trips and all that.

But I think still only having been in the Pac-12 truly for two years, I've had a good scope of it for more than that, being on the West Coast. But I think this year there was a couple times where our staff looked back on it, and we're getting ready for another game in the Pac-12, and realizing, you know, what had happened in the years past and how awesome those moments were for our alumni, for our fan bases.

So there's certainly a piece of that where you're sensitive to it, and it's very unfortunate.

And I guess from my end, the piece of that as the head football coach is to make sure we never forget those moments because those are the moments that are truly important to our program. They're the ones that our fans remember, those are the ones our alumni remember. And that's always going to be a part of -- major part of our tradition and our history.

Q. Wanted to ask you about Montlake futures. Are you pleased with where you've ended up on that partnership? And how important nowadays is the retention piece of NIL?

KALEN DEBOER: I think I always look at things in terms of perspective of how long we've come. We've come a long ways as a football team. We've come a long ways, whether it's certain individuals in the program. And then how far we've come in this situation and with Montlake futures and how great it is now compared to where it was.

Is there room for growth? Absolutely. Do we need to continue to keep the pedal down? Do we need to continue to have more involvement with our community and donors and all that? Do we need to continue to have more of a belief that this is, in some form or fashion, going to be how college athletics is going to continue on? Absolutely. All those things. We need to have more of it.

But we have come a long ways. It's allowed us to have some retention in our program to where a lot of the guys that stuck around for another year, it made it to where, yes, the development that they were going to have, the journey they were going to be on, the experiences they were going to have here this year, those were all big pieces of it, too.

But it kind of made it a little bit easier for them to decide to stay knowing that life is a little bit better, just a little bit.

I don't have to worry about this one where my next meal's going to come from. We take care of all of that from the program standpoint. But maybe if I want to fly home and I've got a three-day, four-day weekend during the summer, some of those type of things.

And a lot of these guys are doing a good job of even just saving it all for their days when football's over, whether it be college or the NFL.

So it's come a long ways. I have a ton of appreciation for the hard work that's been put in. I have a ton of appreciation for the people who believe in this program and understand that in order for us to continue on and be successful, there's got to be a great investment in the NIL world. And we need to continue to build on what's been happening over the last year, year and a half.

Q. You had Michael in '19. When he came back in the picture in '22, I guess, did you have a sense for his angst and everything he'd been through injury-wise where he almost gave up the game? Did you guys ever have a conversation about that?

KALEN DEBOER: I think there's been a story or two that I learned after he's been here. Probably more so just about the pain he felt inside when he was going through all these moments. I knew it was really hard for him. I mean, it would be hard for everyone, right?

But he had been through so much. I also know that when he came on his official visit in December, it was straight business; it didn't matter. We could have taken him to nowhere. And I say we didn't do much with him, but he was focused on watching the film of the receivers, whether it be huddle film from two or three years ago or film from the season before. He was focused on who the offensive linemen were that were going to be protecting him.

I think there was even some focus on the whole team because, yes, he wanted to have that individual success. He wanted to know that he had people around him to be able to throw the ball to and protect him, but he also wanted to win.

And I think that was a piece that was out there. He wanted to win on another level that he hadn't experienced. So it was a pure business trip for him coming out there; but, yeah, there's been a lot of stories that have come out that certainly show all the pain and the tough times that he went through.

Q. I looked up that offensive line. It was not good in '21. 3.19 yards (inaudible). What led him to believe that he would be protected?

KALEN DEBOER: I just tried to compare with him what he had before with what we had. And also him understanding that we were going to get the most out of guys and we were going to be able to evolve what they did and showing why maybe it wasn't successful, maybe why the system didn't fit who that group of guys were blocking up front and him knowing what we were going to do.

And I think his confidence in that is something that, I guess, I'll cherish forever. He had a belief in another level that we were going to continue to put people around him, whether it's Ryan Grubb as the offensive coordinator. And that trust that he had in me at that time is something I'll never forget. And it's a big, major part of our relationship, for sure.

Q. You obviously got a new AD in the middle of this season. What's it been like working with Troy the last few months developing that relationship? What do you feel he's brought to this athletic department in that time?

KALEN DEBOER: He's still trying to put all the pieces around himself as well. I know he just made a couple more hires even this past week.

I appreciate he's been very thorough in trying to figure out exactly what needs to happen and who those people need to be, what their best skill sets are and their traits that we need to grow the athletic department. But it's been great working with him. He's just very aggressive, wants football to be great. Wants our all our sports teams to be great.

But being in season right now and understanding the moment that we're in and what this year's been looking like, it's been awesome having his support. He's been great with communication with me and asking questions and making sure that we feel like we're supported the way that we need to, even during some transition with maybe shorthanded staff in some assistant athletic director roles, things like that.

He's had to pull double, triple duty with all things happening around the athletic department, not just football, but it's been great so far.

Q. Quick question about Richard Newton, a guy who has had a reduced role for you guys but has continued to stay here and has been a teammate and behind the scenes, I'm sure, has been a consummate supporter. What can you say about a guy who chose not to leave despite not having everything he wanted here?

KALEN DEBOER: We had a conversation after last season, or maybe it was a couple of conversations, and, man, Rich falls in that category as being a Dog for life, there's no question. He expressed that.

He understood that we had some guys last year, some more with Dillon Johnson coming in this year (inaudible), and he wanted to do whatever he could to help our team be successful.

I challenged him and said, now this is easier said than done, and he said, "That's all right, I'm wanting to do this." And he's had roles here and there that have been really important, really critical in big moments.

And the thing about Richard is, I know he's going to be ready. He's always ready. And when that time comes, if he gets called upon, he'll step out there and do whatever it takes to help us win.

But he's made some sacrifices because of his commitment to being a Dog. And I can't tell you how much I love him because of all of it. I remind him here and there how much I appreciate him because of just how he's gone about his business, how he's supported everyone around him. And, again, that's easier said than done and really hard to do.