Kalen DeBoer downplays the importance of being the guy to follow Nick Saban

In following Nick Saban, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is well aware he’s got one of the toughest tasks in all of sports. But the former Washington football coach has a remarkably good handle on all of it. And doesn’t seem to be stressed about it publicly. He seems to have taken everything in stride.

Recently on The Jim Rome Show, DeBoer knows that Saban will continue to be a great resource to lean on if he ever has any questions.

“He’s been amazing. You know, he’s just been so respectful in every way. I’m trying to continue to remind him that I’m great with him being around the program. That these guys are guys that he recruited for the most part here. And for them to see him, it still means a lot to them as well. He’s just been so respectful trying to allow me still make it mine,” DeBoer began.

“He’s just down the road and so, and been over there a couple times. Of course, talked to him on the phone as well. And he’s just a great resource. And you know there’s some more questions that I even have before the season kicks off. And some things you’ve gotta be ready for as we go through the year, but he’s just been amazing all those ways,” DeBoer finished.

DeBoer’s resume is impressive. Over his nine years as a head coach — four at NAIA Sioux Falls from 2005-09, two at Fresno State from 2020-21 and two at Washington from 2022-23 — he has a 104-12 career record. That includes a 25-3 record with the Huskies, and he took the program to its first-ever national championship game, where they fell to Michigan Monday night in Houston.

DeBoer is 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 one of the all-time greats in Nick Saban.

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.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.