Kalen DeBoer shares perception of Alabama football from afar

Alabama was winning national championships under Nick Saban long before Kalen DeBoer was coaching at the Division I level.

It’s hard to ignore success, and as a coach, Saban’s storied tenure is something every head coach can aspire to have. DeBoer is no different, which is why he’s been keeping tabs on the Crimson Tide throughout his career leading up to his hire. The new Alabama head coach explained what caught his eye before arriving on campus this offseason.

“The perception was just that the tradition, the history, the pride, it’s there through the championships,” DeBoer said during an appearance on The Next Round podcast. “But there was always this understanding of how things were done, and they were done the right way. Through discipline, through hard work, through physicality on the football field. All those pieces, whether they were core values or just the style of play. You always look to the champions and those who are the best of the best.” 

Saban finished his tenure in Tuscaloosa with a 206-29 record, winning 87 percent of his games. Six of those wins, of course, concluded with the Crimson Tide hoisting the national championship trophy (3x BCS, 3x CFP).

Out of all the accomplishments and moments that Saban made as head coach at Alabama, DeBoer narrowed some of the things that stuck out to him.

“There were so many, over the years, Coach Saban quotes, comments, videos, things that you’d see through Alabama football,” DeBoer continued. “Breaking down film, you know, you’re always stealing from everyone, the red zone throws or whatever it might be, you’re always taking that. Alabama football was always a part of those things too.”

Of course, DeBoer has carved out his own niche during his own coaching career. But who’s to say there isn’t a young coach in a less desirable league that isn’t following DeBoer’s model of coaching, the same way many have done with Saban?

Success has seemed to follow DeBoer everywhere he’s been as a head coach whether that be at Sioux Falls, Fresno State or Washington. Other coaches, in theory, are going to want to mirror his success with their own programs. One doesn’t become Nick Saban’s successor without being a proven winner. DeBoer is exactly that.

If one thing is for certain, it’s that there is little to no margin for error from the Alabama faithful with DeBoer in his transition as the new head coach. Wins are still expected at the rate Saban was winning at — but he knew that before he took the job.