After 17 seasons with Alabama Crimson Tide, Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s retirement concluded one of the most remarkable coaching runs and then Kalen DeBoer was appointed as the new coach at Alabama. However, Saban’s legacy of nine SEC titles and 6 championships burdened DeBoer. Along with that, steering the transfer portal with coaching transition was quite challenging for the new coach. 

Moreover, after the successful scrimmage, Kalen said “I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,“. Additionally, he stated that the program’s tradition-rich history is unparalleled in college athletics, and, he is “excited to carry that legacy forward “. Although the talented coach had to face some struggles after entering the first year at Crimson.

DeBoer’s hurdles as Alabama coach

On August 18, 2024, Josh Pate, host of ‘Late Kick Live’, shared a post on his X account with the caption “Kalen DeBoer on processing thousands of new names when taking the Bama job“. Here, Kalen revealed his struggles as a coach at a new place. When Josh asked him about the secret of the biggest challenge to remember the name of all players and staff, DeBoer replied, “You know, it starts with your own roster and even the people in your building. And so constantly having access and becoming efficient with it“. Moreover, he mentioned that staff also helped in those cases and it seemed like flashcards. 

Nevertheless, it shows that a skilled coach can handle this issue over time. It is expected that it would be the same as the Alabama coach Kalen. But before the joining of DeBoer, many remarkable players left Alabama. On this note, “Nick Saban commended Ryan Williams for waiting and continuing to consider Alabama after Kalen DeBoer took over. Saban believes several other players will be sorry they left Alabama,“. So, you can get an idea about the potential and experiences of DeBoer. Let’s find out the coaching style of Washington’s head coach. 

Kalen’s coaching style and how it’s different from Saban

“Coach, I was worried about the next play and he was like ‘I want you to celebrate, I want you to be excited, that was a really good pass,’” said Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on praising the coaching trait of DeBoer. So, it seems like DeBoer is a friendly and apologetically welcoming coach. Most importantly, he set free the players so that they can give their best. 

On the other hand, Saban was very strict and fiery, as per the info of the Alabama athletes. However, both coaches had a track record of shaping talented players. But the friendly nature of DeBoer might be more beneficial for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Let’s hope for the best as the upcoming season of college football is knocking off.