Kalen DeBoer opens up on how much of a resource Nick Saban has been for him at Alabama
When Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer took over the Crimson Tide program, he vowed to regularly rely on Nick Saban for advice. A little more than a month into his tenure as the Alabama head coach, that has indeed been the case.
DeBoer joined “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” recently and shared what his relationship with Nick Saban has been like thus far.
“He’s been great,” Kalen DeBoer said. “I think there’s been one time he hasn’t picked up the phone, and about five minutes later he called me back. He’s just been amazing.”
DeBoer isn’t the only Alabama coach who uses Saban as a resource. Assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, have reached out to Saban, too.
“Not just for me, but I know Kane Wommack and the defensive staff are excited about having continued conversations just talking ball,” DeBoer said. “We have great coaches on our staff, but you can’t help but make sure you utilize that resource and coach Saban.”
DeBoer also shared what exactly he and Saban have talked about thus far. The two have covered a variety of topics when it comes to running a program and will continue to in the coming months.
“I think a lot of the conversations have been me understanding who’s here, how things have been done. Any questions that pop up just hollering his way,” DeBoer said. “And I think as we go through the next couple of months, we’ll continue to have more of those questions just on, ‘Hey, what’s the best way? Why did you think this way? Why was this practice set up this way?’ There’s just little things that were maybe done a different way. You pick up the phone and reach out and he’s been nothing but great giving his perspective on all of it.”
Nick Saban opens up on his role with Alabama moving forward
Nick Saban and Alabama will always be synonymous with one another after all they accomplished there over 17 seasons. Now, as he moves on to the next phase of his life, that partnership will continue forward into the future, even if in a much different capacity.
At the presentation of the 2024 Nick Saban Legacy Award last night, the former head coach of the Crimson Tide spoke to the media and, at one point, answered a question about what his role with the program would look like. He started with his focus on Tuscaloosa by saying that he and Mrs. Terry would remain active around the area.
“That’s our home. That’s our family. It’s our community,” said Saban. “We’re going to continue to do things to help the community every way that we can.”
What everyone wants to know, though, is how accessible he will be to Kalen DeBoer and the new coaches at Alabama. With his answer, Saban made it clear that he’ll be around and in contact with any of the staff members in whatever way that they need.
“The coaches all know that I’m available if they need me in any way, shape, or form to help them,” said Saban.”
“I talk to Kalen every now and then, talk to the defensive coordinator every now and then. He’s going to come over and meet me this week sometime,” Saban said.