For most, Kalen DeBoer is still the man trying to fill Nick Saban’s massive shoes at Alabama. The Crimson Tide job is a pressure cooker, and Tuscaloosa isn’t exactly known for patience. But while DeBoer grinds through his proving season, he’s still got one foot in Seattle thanks to his daughter, Alexis DeBoer, a rising star on the Washington Huskies softball team.
Even with the demands of SEC football, DeBoer can sometimes be spotted on the Huskies’ sideline, proudly watching his daughter’s journey. And Alexis is giving him plenty to cheer about. The freshman phenom has been racking up accolades, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team honors, and a spot as a top-25 finalist for the NFCA Freshman of the Year award. Not a bad start for someone who took the field for the same school her dad left when he took the Alabama job in 2024.
Her breakout moment came earlier this year at the Candrea Classic, where Alexis smashed a three-run homer against, of all teams, Alabama. Coach Heather Tarr, known for spotting talent, trusted her from Day 1, and Alexis has been lighting up the diamond ever since. She’s making a name for herself, building a legacy that even her trophy-laden dad might be a little jealous of. And it seems like that pride runs deep. When analyst Jim Dunaway asked Kalen about his daughter’s latest milestone, you could almost hear the dad beaming through the phone. After all, while the Tide might be his day job, Alexis is his favorite player to watch.
On the May 17th episode of The Next Round podcast, the analysts gave the Alabama head coach a sweet task. “I want to give you a chance to brag about Alexis. Big 10 freshman of the year. That’s huge.” On May 7, Alexis was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Huskies player to win the award since 2016. And Kalen could not be any prouder.
One could sense the pride in his voice when he said, “I’m really proud of her. She making a name for herself. Just really believe that she had it in her, and probably happened a little quicker than I even thought. But she got the opportunities, and she took advantage of them. She takes care of business in all ways, in the classroom and all that kind of stuff. So I’m a proud dad.” Alexis is a ‘go-getter.’ Having grown up seeing her father excel in sports, she never misses a chance to grab the opportunity.
Kalen coached the Huskies football team for two seasons beginning in 2022. Now his daughter is lifting the program to great heights. Alexis plays first base and delivered a .369/.458/.846/1.304 slash line this year. She hit 20 home runs, drove in 54 RBIs, and stole four bases for Washington. Alexis is managing all things single-handedly—driving the Huskies towards success, leaving a footprint in the NIL, and taking a stand for a life-saving cause.
Alexis DeBoer follows dad Kalen DeBoer’s footsteps
When it comes to Alexis’ on-field standout moments, the list will go on. During the OUTRIGGER Invitational, the Huskies came up with a nine-game winning streak. No brownie points for guessing who was the gamechanger. Of course, Alexis. She hit .579 across the tournament, racking up 11 hits and 3 homers—including her first career grand slam—and drove in 11 runs. Plus, Kalen’s daughter is successfully carrying on the rich legacy. She is now the 7th Husky ever to hit 20+ home runs—and the 1st since Baylee Klingler crushed 24 in 2022.
So, it was obvious that on the NIL front, she is going to be lucky. Alexis has grabbed a bomb deal from the $14.5 billion sportswear giant, Adidas. And how could she not make a big deal about it? She posted the big news on Instagram, donning a sleek light blue and brown sneaker combo. The caption read, “Fling into spring with me! Shop the link in myo! 🩵 @adidas.”
Now, is Alexis DeBoer all about chasing her greatness on and off the field? Definitely not. She takes a pause to give back to the community. Maybe she has learned it from her father. Back in April, he donated his full $3.4 million bonus and endorsement deal to charity and homelessness organizations. On National Wear Red Day, Alexis took to Instagram. No, she did not wear the color purple but was spotted in a shade that symbolized something greater.
She wrote, “Join me in wearing red for National #WearRedDay to show your support for @americanheartWA in the fight against heart disease and stroke.” It’s been a sweet start to 2025 for the DeBoer clan—just one more trophy to make it legendary.
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