Kalen DeBoer details how his relationship with players has changed with more time at Alabama

A coaching change within a program is always a major challenge for both the new staff and players, as they need to build relationships from square one. That was particularly true for Kalen DeBoer as he replaced legendary head coach Nick Saban at Alabama.

Following his second spring at Alabama, DeBoer feels that his relationship with players is in a good place. That change to where their relationship is now is something he went into some detail about during an appearance on Always College Football.

“I think it naturally happens,” DeBoer said. “Because you try to really put yourself in those adverse situations as often as you can, but [when] a game comes along, it’s gonna happen. You’ve got to be able to trust. I think that’s the key word is trust that what you’re saying, or when I’m telling a player or our coaches are telling a player that they know it’s for our good. Not just because you’re upset or anything like that.”

It’s difficult for any head coach to come in and build relationships with players they didn’t recruit. That’s particularly true at a place like Alabama, where players often committed specifically to play for Saban. Still, DeBoer went to work to build those relationships.

In the Transfer Portal era, relationships between players and coaches have changed. If someone doesn’t want to build a relationship, they can leave. However, compared to many programs in the situation that Alabama was in, DeBoer did a fairly good job of preventing roster attrition. In the 2024 transfer cycle, Alabama lost 31 players to transfer. By the 2025 cycle, that number was down to 24 players, a relatively common number.

“You know, the real intentions are for them to be the best they can be,” DeBoer said. “Bring value to who they are as a football player, as a person, and that is nothing about them personally. It’s about what we’re trying to do together to help everyone reach the goals that they have individually and we have collectively. So, yeah. Just more time together.”

In his first season at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer led the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 record and a trip to the ReliaQuest Bowl. There had, at one point, been an argument for the Crimson Tide to make the College Football Playoff. Instead, they’ll look to take that next step forward in 2025.

“We’re very intentional with how we spend that time together in building our culture, having the expectations,” DeBoer said. “But most importantly, just growing the relationships that have that, again, trust, that we all want the same thing, and we all are here for a reason. We all stayed here for a reason, chose to be here for a reason, and that’s to do great things at Alabama.”

Now, Kalen DeBoer will look to build on his solid relationships with the Alabama players and convert that to results on the field. That begins on August 30th with a road trip to play the Florida State Seminoles.