Nick Saban was an elite recruiter in 17 years as head coach of the University of Alabama football program, but he did not start hotter than Kalen DeBoer in relating to high school athletes.
DeBoer has not coached a meaningful game yet; however, he has the No. 1 signing class in the Southeastern Conference and No. 3 class nationally for 2025. High school players are drawn to DeBoer’s philosophy and vision. His coaching staff, including general manager Courtney Morgan, has athletes believing that Alabama is still Alabama without Saban as its head coach.
Greg Byrne made the move on Jan. 12 to have DeBoer as Saban’s successor, and the new Tide coach had his press conference the next day.
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DeBoer, 49, told everyone at Bryant-Denny Stadium that Alabama was the only place he would have left Washington for.
Crimson Tide fans are seeing the sincerity in his statement. In an interview with Roger Hoover of Crimson Tide Sports Network, the Tide’s athletics director details what lies behind DeBoer’s success on the recruiting trail for Alabama.
“Coach Saban and Miss Terry have been so supportive. And at the same time too, @KalenDeBoer and Nicole have embraced them as well.”
– UA AD @Greg_Byrne.@Roger_Hoover‘s Full Interview on Thursday’s Crimson Drive driven by @NASCAR at 2 pm on @UA_CTSN: https://t.co/tgBThLFa8p pic.twitter.com/L4k0h3pKQi— Crimson Tide Sports Network (@UA_CTSN) June 24, 2024
“One of the most incredible things in this transition is Coach Saban and Miss Terry have been so supportive,” Byrne said.
“And at the same time too, Coach DeBoer and his wife, Nicole, have embraced them as well. That is healthy for everyone involved. It’s healthy for our program. It sends the right message to the college football world, the high school football world, you can see that Coach DeBoer and his staff are doing a nice job in recruiting. We have official visitors coming in tonight, I will be meeting with them tomorrow morning at breakfast and it is good to see that energy continue.”
Byrne wants the fans to know he spent a lot of time preparing for life after Saban for Alabama football. He could not be more pleased with the partnership between Saban and Miss Terry and the DeBoer family. DeBoer wants to show he can win at Alabama and Saban wants to see the program continue to be great. Tide fans can’t help but to be excited for what takes place in the fall.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
