As is stated in many college football programs, coaching changes mean changes and instability. The change at Alabama with the introduction of Kalen DeBoer has given Coach Kapilovic a new job on the field and an improved life. As recently as this June, the coach changed sides from Baylor to Alabama. It has also allowed him to balance a high-powered job with his family responsibilities.

Although Alabama football does not let go of the competition, the change of culture under Kalen DeBoer has been a game-changer for Kapilovic to be with his family more than he could ever imagine. Such a transformation indicates that adaptations within soccer could be a ripple with a powerful effect on one’s life at a deeper level, beyond the sport.

A glimpse of Nick Saban: how Kalen DeBoer’s cultural shifts reflect Alabama’s legacy

Travel to Alabama is inextricably connected with his family’s welfare and not just the game of football as a reason for Kapilovic’s relocation. There was certain rigidity about working with Nick Saban, but the new change that came with DeBoer meant more flexibility in work-life balance. The changes have allowed Kapilovic to accompany his son to his high school football games, which is something he could not do at Baylor. His son is a tight end and a long snapper at Northridge, and he has successfully transferred to a new school. Kapilovic witnessed all these positive changes in his son due to the alterations DeBoer introduced to the practice schedule at Alabama.

Notably, while DeBoer is engineering this transition, his concentration on developing relationships away from the playing field parallels the ‘caring for the whole person’ mentality that Saban preached so passionately about before he became the image of command central that he has today. What Kalen DeBoer has done may not reflect Saban’s practices to the letter: still, what DeBoer has done is reminiscent of Saban’s notion that football is about something beyond the gridiron. Thus, it is rather interesting to notice that, while following and developing the strategies of family and life balance, DeBoer also seems to enrich this legacy of Alabama by insisting on the possibility of success grounded on balanced personal and professional improvement.

Prioritizing family time: Kalen DeBoer’s impact on Kapilovic’s experience

The two major effects of the changes that Kalen DeBoer made is that Kapilovic has more family time on his hands. In previous positions of his career at Baylor and elsewhere Scott Kapilovic states that he used to occasionally attend his son’s football matches. But now, in the case of Alabama’s morning practices, the situation is different. “Seeing my son play, those moments you can’t get those back,” Kapilovic said, after showing how he has been able to be more involved in his son’s life.

This kind of change in focus towards the family at Alabama delivers the notion that football programs can change, as they still have higher expectations and excellent performance. Such changes are not only, tactical during training and games; they also consider the health of coaches and their dependents. It does even out and still promotes the success of Alabama football while making those individuals’ lives better for dedicating the time they have into the program.