Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Alabama

Kalen DeBoer revs up crowd at Alabama basketball game

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•01/16/24
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer
Kalen DeBoer (Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY Sports)

New Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has officially been on the job less than a week, but he’s already making himself perfectly at home in Tuscaloosa.

DeBoer was introduced by athletics director Greg Byrne to the crowd at Alabama’s basketball game against Missouri on Tuesday night during a timeout break. The crowd roared to life.

“I already feel like I know where I should be, it’s right over here, right?” DeBoer said, as he walked the floor toward the student section. “I know where to find you. I know where to find you.”

The students will help make up some of the most vocal support for DeBoer and his squads on Saturdays in the fall, so naturally he made sure to make them feel welcomed on Tuesday night. That’s something he’ll continue to do going forward, if he’s smart.

Regardless, DeBoer had another message for the Alabama faithful. One about continuing the success of Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.

“Hey, it is so awesome to be here. It’s happened really fast,” DeBoer said. “We’ve got a lot of great news coming out, whether it’s recruiting, our staff. Can’t wait to ingrain myself in this community. What a special place. What a special place. The standard is Alabama. The standard is Alabama. Can’t wait to be here. Let’s keep supporting all the athletic teams. Roll Tide!”

You can view video of DeBoer’s appearance courtesy of On3’s Charlie Potter below.

Kalen DeBoer makes another staff hire

Even as DeBoer was getting ready to appear at the Alabama basketball game on Tuesday evening he was hard at work assembling his staff.

He’s already made a few key hires, and he has another one lined up according to a report from ESPN. DeBoer plans to tap Buffalo head coach Maurice Linguist as a defensive assistant on his staff.

Linguist would be the second sitting FBS head coach to join DeBoer’s defensive staff if the hire materializes as expected.

Linguist has experience in the SEC at two different programs, the first being Mississippi State. He coached safeties in 2016. After a brief stop at Minnesota, Linguist made his way to College Station to be the cornerbacks coach for Texas A&M in 2018 and 2019.

He took the Buffalo job in 2021.