Alabama AD Greg Byrne reveals what drew Crimson Tide to hiring Kalen DeBoer

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne took some time ahead of Kalen DeBoer’s introductory press conference to explain what drew him to the coach.

DeBoer will have big shoes to fill, as the successor to Nick Saban, but the former Washington is up to the challenge, at least that’s what Byrne and the brain-trust in Tuscaloosa believe.

“Simply put, Coach DeBoer is a winner,” Byrne said. “In his nine seasons as a head coach, he’s 104-12. He went 25-3 in his two seasons at Washington after taking over a challenging situation. As we watched, he just led the Huskies to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Washington won the 2023 Pac-12 Championship. They recorded the most wins in a season, in Washington program history, with 14 last year. He won six of the eight national coach of the year awards in 2023, and back-to-back Pac-12 Coach of the Year Award winner.

“In his last two years, his teams went 10-1 against ranked opponents. The list goes on and on. He’s a ball coach.”

While the statistics are phenomenal, that’s not all that led Deboer to Alabama, as his off-field resume impressed Byrne just as much.

“Impressive as those accolades are, what stands out equally as much are his relationships off the field, and the way he cares about his players,” Byrne added. “One of the many things I felt responsibly for in this search was to make sure that we had someone who cared for our kids, just as much as Coach [Saban] and Mrs. Terry did.

“And at the end of the day, when we’re hiring a coach, I ask a simple question, because I have to keep it pretty simple for myself, ‘Is this someone I would want my son to play for?’ The answer for Coach DeBoer is absolutely.”

More Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide

Of course, Kalen DeBoer’s resume is impressive. He’s also known as an impressive offensive mind, spending most of his career as an offensive coordinator before becoming a head coach. Now, he’s gearing up to replace Saban — which he noted in his statement.

“I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,” DeBoer said. “The tradition-rich history of this program is unmatched across the landscape of college athletics, and I look forward to continuing that moving forward. Following Coach Saban is an honor. He has been the standard for college football, and his success is unprecedented. I would not have left Washington for just any school. The chance to lead the football program at The University of Alabama is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“My family and I feel truly blessed and look forward to becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. I want to thank Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, President Stuart R. Bell, Chancellor Finis St. John and The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for their belief in me to lead this program.”

Saban spent 17 years at Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide to six national championships and winning 201 games during that time. In addition to his trophies, he developed an extensive coaching tree, featuring plenty of big-name coaches such as Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, among many others.

Now, it’s up to Kalen DeBoer to lead the Crimson Tide, and we’ll have to wait and see if he can have as much success with Alabama as he’s had with other programs.