Alabama woman says she would use Powerball winnings to pay off coach Kalen DeBoer
Susie Conerly told a local TV station she would use part of a potential $1.8 billion jackpot to force a coaching change after Alabama’s season-opening loss
An Alabama woman said she would use a share of a potential Powerball jackpot to pay off Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer and remove him from the program if she won the lottery.
Susie Conerly, of Huntsville, told WHNT-TV she would use the first $70 million of winnings to "pay off Kalen DeBoer and get him the heck out of the University of Alabama," according to the station’s account reported by Awful Announcing. The comments came as the Powerball jackpot climbed to $1.8 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers on Thursday night, the second-largest prize in U.S. lottery history.
Conerly told the station she hoped to win the drawing and that luxury purchases were not her priority. Instead, she said she would focus on making a change at the state’s flagship football program. Her remarks came amid unrest among some fans following Alabama’s upset loss to Florida State in the first game of the 2025 college football season.
The Crimson Tide were defeated by Florida State on Aug. 30 in Tallahassee, a result that intensified scrutiny of DeBoer, who was hired to lead Alabama earlier in 2025. The loss was widely discussed among supporters and pundits and has been cited as increasing pressure on the coaching staff, though the university has not announced any personnel changes.
DeBoer, a former assistant at other Power Five programs, took over the Crimson Tide program with expectations of maintaining Alabama’s longstanding place among college football’s elite. Team performance, recruiting, and game-day results have been cited by analysts as measures by which new coaching regimes are judged, and early-season losses frequently draw heightened attention.
Conerly’s remarks were part of broader public reaction to both the lottery and the team’s performance. The Powerball drawing’s massive jackpot drew national interest, and local commentary ranged from lighthearted to pointed. The lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers in the most recent drawing, leaving the top prize at $1.8 billion for the next drawing.
The University of Alabama athletic department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DeBoer’s contract details and any buyout provisions have not been publicly altered since his hiring, and personnel decisions remain the purview of university officials.
Powerball officials have outlined procedures for claiming large jackpots, and potential winners typically consult financial and legal advisers before accepting lump-sum or annuity options. Whether individual fans privately express a desire to influence personnel decisions or publicly pledge lottery funds, formal changes to a coaching staff require action by university leadership and compliance with contractual obligations.
Conerly’s comments illustrate how high-profile sports programs can attract intense local sentiment, especially following surprising game results. The upcoming schedule and Alabama’s responses on the field are likely to shape further public debate about the team’s direction and its coaching staff as the season progresses.