Kalen DeBoer admits he failed to meet Alabama standard in his first year as coach

Kalen DeBoer knows Alabama didn’t live up to the hype or expectations during the 2024 season. In his first year as head coach after coming over from Washington, DeBoer knew it would be a pressure cooker.

Especially after a year where the Crimson Tide won the SEC and made the College Football Playoff, getting back there was the minimum. Not to mention, DeBoer filled the shoes of the legendary Nick Saban.

Not making the CFP and then losing a bowl game to Michigan, finishing 9-4, was not where Alabama wanted to be last fall. But with a year in Tuscaloosa under his belt, DeBoer is confident in the Year 2 jump.

“If you internally ask us, no, like, we fell short of making the playoffs, it’s as simple as that, right?” DeBoer said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. “And giving yourself a chance to go compete for a championship, I think there’s a lot of things that I’m super proud of that are happening within the program that are part of the progression. Yeah, we want it right now, too. And so, yeah, we fell short, our guys, you know, again, I’m proud of them and the way they’ve responded to, you know, us not realizing the goals that we set out to have, and getting back just to work focusing on the main thing. 

“I feel that’s always been the case. But sometimes there’s just ups and downs you’ve got to go. through. Unfortunate that we had to experience (that) but in the end you know we’re going to take advantage of the failures we’ve had and be better because of it.”

Alabama soared to No. 1 overall in the country following a 4-0 start and a win over No. 2 Georgia, 41-34, in Tuscaloosa. Everything seemed like it would be a seamless transition for DeBoer and company.

However, an upset loss to Vanderbilt on the road, 40-35, led to the Crimson Tide dropping to No. 7 in the country. They’d fall to 5-2 with a loss to Tennessee on the road as well.

DeBoer seemed to right the ship last year with three straight wins over Missouri, LSU and FCS foe Mercer. The expectations at that point, at 8-2, were to get to double-digit wins and make the College Football Playoff.

But a less-than-stellar loss to Oklahoma caused a lot of questions regarding DeBoer’s ability to coach at Alabama compared to Washington. While they won the Iron Bowl, a bowl game loss to Michigan left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths.

But falling short is a big lesson for DeBoer and the program. Should they make that jump, perhaps Alabama will be competing for a national title once again this season.