Trust the process! A statement that is the hallmark of every successful sporting story. Many teams win games, but only the great ones win championships. A good process takes the great ones to the mountaintop. Kalen DeBoer is under a mountain of expectations as he seeks to follow Nick Saban’s legacy at Alabama. A job that is anyway challenging enough was made harder when his offensive coordinator moved to the NFL to join the Seahawks. But, a coaching record of 104-12 and three NAIA national championships later, it’s safe to presume that DeBoer knows what he is doing. 

Appearing on CBS Sports College Football, Kalen DeBoer listed three key components of his process. For the Alabama HC, it starts with having people around you who can help you get through both good and bad. “It’s having a family environment, and I think my role is to help facilitate a place where these guys love coming into the building each and every day to pour into the football, to pour into each other.” This environment helped DeBoer take the Washington Huskies to the final of the national championship in 2023, a performance that probably earned him a promotion to Alabama. 

Apart from family, DeBoer stressed the importance of accountability and toughness. He expects everyone, including himself, to first be accountable to themselves and then to the people around them. Similarly, with toughness, DeBoer says, “We don’t get defensive when we get called to the table on something we could have done better. We understand that everything we do and we say is for the best betterment of the football team.“ These factors are key to forging relationships and strengthening processes, which helps DeBoer even in things such as replacing Ryan Grubbs.

Kalen DeBoer looks in-house to replace Ryan Grubbs

Ryan Grubbs’ role as the offensive coordinator was critical to Washington’s success. With QB Michael Penix Jr and RB Dillon Johnson, the Huskies mastered both the run and passing games. Now that Grubbs is no longer there, Kalen DeBoer has replaced him with Nick Sheridan. DeBoer encountered Sheridan at Indiana. He later joined DeBoer at Washington as the tight ends coach. Formerly a quarterback, Sheridan will now be responsible for calling the offense at Alabama. But he is not the only one who will help DeBoer with the offense. 

Alongside Sheridan, DeBoer has also promoted JaMarcus Shephard, who coached the wide receivers and coordinated the passing game at Washington. Shephard will serve as the co-offensive coordinator. Now that he has figured his guys at Alabama, DeBoer will give them the space to call plays during a game. “There is a time and place when the HC because it has your name on it, has to step in, but that rhythm is so important,“ DeBoer says. 

The Crimson Tide will face Western Kentucky on August 31. Going by how Alabama revered Nick Saban, it’s crucial that DeBoer’s men start well, or all hell may break loose. But, come on, we are talking about DeBoer, and Alabama fans will do well to breathe easy and trust the process.