ESPN REPORT: Details on Kalen DeBoer’s suspension.
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama Kalen DeBoer is aware of the proverb that states it is preferable to follow the man who followed the man rather than the man himself.
Since taking over as Alabama’s football coach last month and succeeding the great Nick Saban, DeBoer has heard it once or twice. However, he stated on Wednesday that any pressure he might experience is greatly outweighed by the honor of being selected to succeed Saban.
“I look at it as a privilege, and not pressure, to be able to come to a place like this,” DeBoer stated to ESPN. “I recognize that there are a lot of very high expectations. However, consider the alternative: being somewhere without any expectations.
“That’s not what I’m looking for, not what I’ve gone through to get to this point.”
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In his second season, DeBoer led Washington to the College Football Playoff national championship game, but Michigan defeated them. Prior to DeBoer’s arrival, the Huskies had a 4-8 record. In seven of his nine seasons as head coach, he has won 11 or more games.
Furthermore, he is fully aware of the prevailing narrative, which holds that Alabama is finally vulnerable despite DeBoer’s accomplishments.
“I think there’s maybe a common chip on our shoulder,” DeBoer stated. “Last year, our Alabama team almost missed out on playing for the national title. At Washington, we were just one win away from taking home the national championship.
“Let’s take that next step together.”
According to DeBoer, Alabama should approach everything with a “attack” mentality, much like how Washington has destroyed teams over the last two seasons. Together with Georgia, Oregon, and USC, the Huskies were one of just four FBS teams to score 36 points or more per game on average during the previous two seasons.
“It’s the same way on defense, and it doesn’t mean that the ball’s always flying down the field 40 or 50 yards on offense, either,” DeBoer stated. There’s a mentality that says we don’t have to set something up with two or three additional play calls if you think there’s a play that can be made. We can attack right now, and we’ll be so well-prepared with our strategy and the specifics of the players we’re attempting to take down on camera that everyone will know exactly why we’re doing something when we make a check or a call.”
DeBoer served as Indiana’s offensive coordinator just five years ago. His ability to coach where he was and not look for the next project has always been something he has taken great satisfaction in.
When he won three NAIA national championships at Sioux Falls in 2006, 2008, and 2009, it was the same way. In 2020–21, it went similarly at Fresno State, where he eventually secured his first Power 5 head position at Washington. However, DeBoer never wavered when he received the call the evening of January 10 indicating that Alabama wished to speak. He was passionate about leading the Huskies program and the possibilities that awaited them in Washington.
However, history doesn’t come knocking on your door every day.
“It’s something that you build up for to be ready,” DeBoer stated. “And I believe that a lot of people frequently express their desire to perform at the top level. They want to compete against the greatest, but many people eventually come to the realization that perhaps it isn’t what they really wanted to do. You reach a stage in your work where you are enough convinced of who you are and what you have been through to know that you can succeed, but you also still have the desire and appetite to take on new challenges and chances.
“At that point in my career, it’s important to keep in mind that everything happened very quickly. When you wake up on Wednesday morning, Alabama is the last place you think of. After then, you receive the call and hear the news. Therefore, when I say fast, I actually mean fast.”
When Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne questioned DeBoer about taking over for head coach Nick Saban, DeBoer’s response merely confirmed what Byrne already knew about the player. Ultimately, all athletic directors maintain a working short list of potential hires, particularly after their head coach reaches his seventy years of age.
“I’m going to embrace Coach Saban and what he and Mrs. Terry [Saban] represent and mean to this university,” DeBoer said to Byrne. “Only one person will ever have the opportunity to follow Coach Saban in that manner. What a privilege, what a chance, what a challenge.”
DeBoer stated that while he and Saban have spoken on the phone a few times, they haven’t had an opportunity to have a lengthy conversation.
“I’m excited to do that,” DeBoer remarked. “Our schedules haven’t really allowed it, but I can’t imagine having a better resource to go to on any number of topics.”
Since DeBoer was hired, Saban claimed he hasn’t returned to the football complex, but only because he wanted to allow DeBoer time to adjust. DeBoer has also experienced a whirlwind, going through several waves in the process of putting together his staff.
When he first arrived, Ryan Grubb was supposed to be the offensive coordinator. However, he left to take the position of offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, taking offensive line coach Scott Huff with him. DeBoer brought in veteran Chris Kapilovic, who had recently been signed by Baylor from Michigan State, to replace Huff. DeBoer also brought his Washington-based friend Nick Sheridan along. Grubb’s successor as offensive coordinator is Sheridan, the tight ends coach for the Huskies from the previous season. DeBoer informed ESPN on Wednesday that Sheridan would call plays for the Tide. In 2020–21, Sheridan called the plays for Indiana.
DeBoer stated that he was aware that keeping Grubb would be challenging and that at first, he thought Grubb might take over as Washington’s head coach. He enjoys the composition of his staff, which includes Robert Gillespie coaching running backs and Saban alumnus Freddie Roach coaching the defensive line.
