Kalen DeBoer explains the value in having head coaching experience on staff at Alabama
New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is being tasked with the incredibly difficult job of replacing the greatest college coach in the modern era. In doing so, he’ll need to make plenty of smart moves, including in terms of how he develops his staff.
As he came in and put together that first staff at Alabama, DeBoer made a point of adding assistants with head coaching experience. It was a move that he explained will have plenty of value for the program moving forward.
“That was, right off the bat, a few guys that I had identified that I’m so excited about just because of their experience as head coaches,” Kalen DeBoer said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “Kind of being in the chair, and again, [I’ll] use the word perspective is what they have and kind of understanding what I’m doing and when we make decisions kind of why it is for that and that reasoning.”
In particular, Alabama added Kane Wommack and Maurice Linguist left head coaching positions at South Alabama and Buffalo respectively, to come to Alabama to work together as co-defensive coordinators. Wommack will also coach linebackers while Linguist will work with defensive backs.
“So, those two guys have been amazing. Kane is experienced also just in the state and regionally down here in the Southeast. Just can not be overstated. Mo, when I got a chance to know him a little bit, just could see that he was gonna be an amazing fit. They both bring great energy, great expertise, you know, their records and resumes are certainly proven.”
Ultimately Kalen DeBoer is excited about his staff and thinks there are more head coaches than just the ones who left those jobs on it. They just haven’t gotten their opportunity yet, but DeBoer hopes they’ll get those chances in the future.
“So, we’ve got a lot of other guys on this staff that I think are gonna be head coaches sooner than later. They have that within them. You can see that the way they motivate, the way they teach, the way they recruit. So, I’m excited to see the journey of all these guys. I’d be pretty hypocritical if I didn’t hope that we continue to develop the coaches just as much as we develop the players to someday they get their opportunity just like I’ve had over the years.”
Kalen DeBoer describes his early impressions of Alabama program from afar
It’s only been a little over a month since Kalen DeBoer became the next head coach at Alabama. Despite that, he’s already getting a good impression of the program.
“I’ve always had the ultimate respect for Alabama football and a lot of that has been tied to Coach Saban over the years. Constantly looking to Alabama as the standard, always keeping an eye whether it’s the schemes, the concepts on the field. But probably just how everything has been carried out through Coach Saban’s leadership from within the program,” DeBoer said.
“There are certainly a lot of things I have stolen from programs across the country. I think that’s just the nature of our job. You try to take the pieces that fit who you are and what you do. I’ve always had my eye on Alabama from that idea and concept. Just always looking to improve our place, wherever I’ve been. Alabama has always been a major part of that.”