No one will ever replace the value of Nick Saban at Alabama, but the Crimson Tide’s football program has a head coach that was willing to fill in shoes left behind by a legend.
Saban carried his style for 17 years (2007-23) and it produced winning results. He was a tough disciplinarian, but he loved his players, assistant coaches, and wanted the best for the University of Alabama. Saban’s way propelled the Tide to six national championships, nine Southeastern Conference titles, eight College Football Playoff appearances, four Heisman Memorial Trophy winners, several All-Americans and All-SEC players, and much more. Kalen DeBoer brings a different style and personality to Tuscaloosa, Ala.
He played music at spring practice, he’s instituting morning practices for fall camp, he’s tuned into social media, and he’s injected a different energy into the program. DeBoer, a South Dakota native, is different for Alabama football, yet there’s a significant quality that he and Saban share.
He explained it Wednesday at SEC Media Days at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
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“I know Coach Saban just poured into those guys,” DeBoer said. “He loved them, he believed in them, and pushed them to be their best. Every coach is different. We all have different personalities, we have our styles — especially when you have been doing it for a while — but the most important things are probably pretty similar more than they are different.”
DeBoer said he carries the same mentality for pouring into the players, pushing them to be their best, holding them accountable, expecting a high level of discipline, building a brotherhood/family with the team, and being great on the football field.
DeBoer, like Saban, wants the best for the Crimson Tide.
It has been a smooth transition from Saban to DeBoer, and Alabama fans want its new coach to be successful.
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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.
