Kalen DeBoer has a message for Washington fans.

The UW head coach took out a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of The Seattle Times not to ask Washington fans for their money, but to give them a reason to offer their support. The first-year head coach wrote that he and his staff are working to build a strong culture and a program that honors a past of great football at Washington.

“Washington is a special place and we are thankful for the opportunity in front of us,” DeBoer wrote. “Since we’ve arrived, my family and I have been welcomed with open arms and our staff has also felt your support. Thank you. This place is truly different!

“Success begins with strong relationships. Throughout history, it is clear that the greatest teams are those with the strongest bonds. In these environments, players, coaches and staff members commit to each other and sacrifice themselves for the good of the group. With tight knit connections, there are no limits to what we can achieve. We are hard at work building relationships within our team, around the UW campus and throughout Seattle. Our future is bright.

“Washington Football has a history of greatness, and we will honor and respect the past every time we step on the field. This is an exciting time to be a Husky and we can’t wait to see you at Husky Stadium this fall!”

DeBoer arrived this offseason from Fresno State, where he was the head coach in 2020 and 2021. The Washington gig is his first head coaching job at the Power Five level, but it’s certainly not his first rodeo. DeBoer has years of coaching experience — and national titles — at the NAIA level in South Dakota.

The Huskies begin their first season under DeBoer on Saturday against Kent State. That game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff on FS1.