Tim Smith recalls decision to stay at Alabama, 'suspense' before Kalen DeBoer hire

When Nick Saban announced his retirement in January, it sent a shockwave across the college football world. It was especially strong in Tuscaloosa, though, where Tim Smith and the rest of the Crimson Tide players waited to find out who would replace the greatest to ever do it.

Ultimately, Greg Byrne hired Kalen DeBoer, fresh off a national championship game appearance in his second year at Washington. Once Smith learned more about his new coach, he decided to stick around for one more year.

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Smith recalled the days that passed after Saban’s surprising announcement and how the players reacted. Days passed before Alabama announced DeBoer’s hiring, and once the news came down, Smith said the players looked up their new coach. When they saw his credentials, they knew what they’d be getting.

“At first, everybody’s a little skeptical because it was such a hold-up,” Smith said on Hey Coach and The Kalen DeBoer Show Wednesday night. “Everybody’s just waiting around in the suspense of, ‘Who’s finna be our head coach?’ With the news being broke to us, obviously, we went and did our research. Obviously, he had a phenomenal last year, especially with what he did with the team that he had prior to that. … How he turned their program around, and then took them boys to a Playoff run the next year.

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“It was like, man, it’s not as if the dude doesn’t know what he’s doing. He knows how to coach good football. Why not give the guy another shot? I’ve been here four years. I understand the culture and what it takes. It’s not just about the coaches. It’s the players, as well.”

Tim Smith: ‘I just wanted to be a part of it’

DeBoer went to work quickly with his new core of players, and Smith would help lead the charge on defense. A veteran defensive tackle, he was named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List as he enters his fifth season at Alabama.

During his time with the Crimson Tide, Smith won a national championship as a freshman in 2020. Considering DeBoer’s track record, he saw an opportunity to come back for one last dance – and he’s already seeing early returns from his new coach.

“He’s done a good job of recruiting, making sure we’re getting those types of players back in here, as well,” Smith said. “I just wanted to be a part of it. Be able to win him a national championship because I already got one myself.”