worth $7 million Kalen DeBoer discusses his game plan when Nick Saban, the former head coach of Alabama, replaces him. “As soon as I touched down, I moved ahead of them.”
After officially announcing his appointment as the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Kalen DeBoer began assembling his team for the next season, succeeding longstanding head coach Nick Saban.
DeBoer discussed his early steps in beginning his new career with Dan Patrick in a recent interview.
“I’m meeting with the team and really trying to get in front of them,” DeBoer declared. The crazy nature of collegiate athletics, particularly in light of the gateway, compelled me to make sure that people knew who I was at that particular time. I immediately moved in front of them once I landed. (1:10)
Getting to know the players and leaving a lasting impression that they are the new coach should be the first priorities of any new coach joining a new team.
With Nick Saban leading the team for 17 years and winning six national titles, everyone had become accustomed to him, so it would have been difficult for Alabama to accept DeBoer as the new head coach.
This could have been the beginning of the end for DeBoer, who this season guided the Washington Huskies to the national championship. Being the son of one of the greatest college football coaches of all time is not an easy feat, but this was one of the things that pulled him to the Alabama job.
During this period, DeBoer has observed several Alabama starters, backups, and prospects leave the state via the transfer site. This was a setback for the new head coach, despite his conviction that his team is formidable.
They’ve been able to hold onto several of their starters, including quarterback Jalen Milroe, and have a strong recruiting class, which DeBoer intends to continue as coach.