Kalen DeBoer: Alabama is 'maybe the only place' he would've left Washington for after 2 years

Just two years ago, Kalen DeBoer was taking over as the head coach at Washington following two seasons at Fresno State. Saturday marked the next chapter in his career as he officially succeeded Nick Saban as Alabama’s head coach and got introduced with a press conference.

It won’t be an easy task for DeBoer, replacing arguably the greatest coach of all time who brought six national championships to Tuscaloosa over 17 years. But when Greg Byrne reached out, DeBoer knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

In fact, he said, he didn’t plan on leaving Washington for many — if any — other jobs.

“I need to thank some people back at Washington,” DeBoer said, fighting back tears as he got emotional.
“It’s a special place to me. It really is. And this was one of the few places, maybe the only place, that I would have ever left to come coach at because I understand what Alabama football is all about. And those guys that I sat in front of a room yesterday, I know what they’re going through, because I saw the same thing less than 24 hours ago.

“I just want to tell everyone, because I know they’re there watching, I just want to tell you guys I love you. I will miss you. And I want nothing but the best for everyone back there. The journey the last two years [has] been special. I’m looking forward to the new journey that lies ahead, I’m looking for those new challenges here. Cannot wait, like I said ,to roll up my sleeves with all of you, with our team and go to battle each and every day, each and every week, each and every year.”

Kalen DeBoer: The tradition at Alabama is ‘second to none’

Kalen DeBoer said he received a few questions from people who wondered “Why Alabama?” After all, he had just taken Washington to the national championship and had a 25-3 record after taking over the program. Of course, the idea of picking up where Saban left off was enticing.

But the program has more history than just the last 17 years, and DeBoer mentioned the great Paul “Bear” Bryant when discussing that. Add in the challenge of meeting championship expectations, and he said it fit what he wanted to do as a coach.

“When it comes to tradition and the history of the program, it’s second to none,” DeBoer said. “And when I look at places that I want to be, it’s about winning championships, and that’s an expectation that I cannot wait and accept as a privilege to try to uphold. Winning SEC championships, winning national national championships. That’s the expectation, and a love and an interest that I’ve always had, and a passion that I’ll have and looking forward to carry on with our players, our staff and all of you here as we go through these years ahead.

“The resources, the facilities, everything that can be here to support our our players, our staff — that’s my role as a head coach is to provide that atmosphere, that environment. And when you have resources like we have here at Alabama, it makes my job easier, and looking forward to to utilizing and showing off these resources to those that want to be wearing the Crimson.”