Kalen DeBoer reveals what he has learned about Alabama program since becoming head coach

Nick Saban‘s retirement was the headline of the college football offseason, which was followed by Alabama hiring former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer as the successor to who many regard as the greatest coach of all time.

The transition hasn’t been easy for DeBoer, who’s had two coaches leave his staff for other jobs and 28 players enter the transfer portal. But through it all he’s learned a lot about his new team, which he recently explained on ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’.

“Well I don’t know if I’ve learned it, but one of the really cool things is just the guys and the players from within. How, not resilient, but just the appreciation I have for how patient they’ve been and them realizing that they’re the ones that gotta go out and make the plays on Saturdays,” DeBoer said.

“And getting that appreciation for how they’ve just stayed the course and believing in Alabama and believing that Greg Byrne and those that are here that run our university and our athletic program are gonna continue to hire great people,” DeBoer added. “And that I’m gonna continue to bring great people in, and our guys have just stayed the course and just focused on what they can control.”

Alabama became synonymous with success during the past 17 seasons under Saban. But there’s no question that DeBoer has been a proven winner throughout his head coaching career, boasting an impressive 104-12 record.

DeBoer spent two seasons as Washington and Fresno State‘s head coach following his five-year tenure of dominance at NAIA powerhouse Sioux Falls. But despite Tuscaloosa representing his first time coaching in the south at one of the most daunting programs to take over, he’s found a unique way to unite the Crimson Tide team.

“Along the way I think we’re getting stronger and stronger because of just the way we’ve united. I think one of the connecting points was kind of going back to just falling short here the last season. Whether it be myself and a couple of our staff members that can from Washington or the team here. We kind of finished the season with an empty pit in our stomach and that’s been something that’s really kind of united us,” DeBoer explained. “So it’s been really cool seeing those that have been on the staff before, those that have been here before as players, and us coming together with the staff that I’ve brought in to add to it.”

Alabama and Washington were both eliminated from last year’s College Football Playoff by Michigan. But in a unique way, pieces of both of those teams have joined forces and will look to bring the Crimson Tide back to national championship glory this upcoming season.

“It’s just been really cool seeing everything come together, so it’s been an awesome experience so far. Can’t wait here in a couple weeks we’re gonna be taking the field before spring break for a few practices and I know the guys are eager to do that,” DeBoer concluded.