In a dramatic turn of events, the whirlwind coaching search for the University of Alabama football team concluded on Friday with the appointment of Kalen DeBoer as the 28th head coach. The search, which began less than 48 hours after Nick Saban's retirement on Wednesday, ended with a flurry of developments on Friday.

The morning started with a cancellation of a scheduled interview with DeBoer on Seattle radio station 99.3-KJR, hinting at his potential involvement. Shortly after, news broke that former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian would remain with the Texas Longhorns, squashing rumors of his return to the Crimson Tide.

Meanwhile, Florida State University announced that they had reached a new deal with their head coach, Mike Norvell, dispelling any speculation about his potential candidacy for the Alabama job.

As the day progressed, more concrete information emerged. Speculation turned into reality when ESPN reported that Alabama was in negotiations with DeBoer. Shortly after, it was revealed that DeBoer had indeed informed Washington, his previous team, that he would be leaving for Alabama.

The Alabama community eagerly awaited an official announcement, which came at 6:35 p.m. when the university officially introduced DeBoer as the new head coach. The news was met with excitement from fans, and DeBoer's plane arrival in Tuscaloosa at 8:37 p.m. was greeted by a cheering crowd.

The evening concluded with DeBoer meeting the Alabama football team for the first time at the Mal Moore Athletics Complex. A news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, where he will be officially introduced as the head coach.

Nick Saban, the legendary former head coach, released a statement at 7:17 p.m. expressing his support for DeBoer's appointment and offering his confidence in the Alabama program's future under his leadership.

The swift conclusion of Alabama's coaching search has brought a new era for the Crimson Tide, and fans eagerly await the start of the DeBoer era on the football field.