Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer looking forward to ‘high expectations’ in year 3

David Leong - Imagn Images

He did not understand the extent of high expectations that Alabama fans have for its football program in his first two seasons, but he looks forward to the pressure this year.

Kalen DeBoer arrived in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) in January of 2024 as a wide-eyed South Dakota native that coached in the Pac-12 and other places, yet he never experienced anything quite like the Southeastern Conference. He was Greg Byrne’s choice in the post-Nick Saban succession plan and Crimson Tide fans want to believe in him. He’s had good moments in 2024 and 2025; however, people more so remember the horrible losses and lack of execution in those defeats.

DeBoer brought in back-to-back strong recruiting classes, including one with former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell. Many are expecting this campaign to be one for Alabama to win either an SEC Championship or a College Football Playoff National Championship.

DeBoer got Washington to the door of a CFP National Championship in 2023, but could not finish the job. He is now in a place where the expectation is championship or bust each year.

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Crimson Tide fans are overly passionate to a fault about its program. 

Tide fans want to be elite and have a football team that can boast about.

DeBoer had to have recognized the deep love for football from Alabama fans in each of the last two seasons, especially after the losses. The jury is out on whether Byrne made the right hire; however, DeBoer relishes the chance to prove himself right. He stated on the Always College Football podcast with Greg McElroy about how appreciative he is to be at a place that cares about winning.

“It’s better to be at a place that really cares and with people who really care, and they’re passionate, than to be at a place that doesn’t care or is just ho-hum.”

Kalen DeBoer on how special the @AlabamaFTBL job is and his journey entering year 3 ⬇️#RollTide pic.twitter.com/OqwZ6QoMQB

— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) May 14, 2026

“It has been awesome,” DeBoer said about being at Alabama. 

“It is better to be at a place that really cares, and with people that really care and are passionate. Than to be at a place that does not care, and it’s just ho-hum. I guess along with that comes, you know, a microscope when it comes to things that we knew Alabama was going to have. When my family moved here, when coaches were hired, and the players came in, we reminded them every time that this is what we signed up for. The high expectations, this is what we love. This is what our responsibility is to continue to maintain a high level of work on and off the field. That standard here exists because everyone that came here before us and how well they did it. So, I look forward to it.”

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Alabama fans are hopeful that this season is one where DeBoer puts it all together and the Crimson Tide captures a championship.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.