Kalen DeBoer recalls memories that sparked his interest in Alabama football

Kalen DeBoer’s interest in Alabama didn’t begin this offseason. In a conversation with ESPN’s Greg McElroy, the first-year Crimson Tide head coach revealed his longstanding intrigue with the program.

“I do remember being in high school and Coach [Gene] Stallings with the championship team there in the early ’90s,” DeBoer said. “There was something about that. Him being on the sideline and, just being a South Dakota boy, just not having traveled around and definitely [not having] been to this part of the country, that just seemed like so far away and so outrageous to think about Alabama football.”

It’s not so outrageous now. In two seasons at Washington, DeBoer tallied a stunning 25-3 overall record. In the 2023 campaign, DeBoer led the Huskies to a Pac-12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

With DeBoer leading the way, Washington looked like it would be a powerhouse for years to come. Then, Nick Saban retired, sending shockwaves throughout the college football landscape. Suddenly, the same boy who was once a high schooler in South Dakota was now Alabama’s No. 1 choice to replace Saban.

Obviously, DeBoer accepted. However, it’s worth noting DeBoer’s experience with Alabama wasn’t limited to watching primetime games in his living room.

“In 2017, coming here as a coordinator when I was at Fresno State and coming over—we were kind of working our way up. It was our first year there,” DeBoer said. “We had a lot of things that we were trying to figure out, sort through.

“But, just the environment, the energy, the excitement leading up to the game—of course, the game itself—most of it was special. You could see it and so I had a visual in my head of what it felt like, as this process was all happening and the opportunity was presenting itself, so I was very excited about that.”

Alabama defeated DeBoer and Fresno State 41-10 in the 2017 showdown. However, DeBoer won a chance to learn about the program that he would eventually inherit. Now, Kalen DeBoer hopes to live up to the program’s expectations.

“It’s always been what we refer to as the standard,” DeBoer said. “A special place and one that brings in the championships. But, the way it’s done—being first class in all those areas, not just on the field but off the field. It’s what I’ve always seen from afar, I’ve always admired just everything about the program.”