Tide introduce Kalen DeBoer, who ‘can’t wait for journey ahead’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama President Stuart Bell marked a “new chapter in the Crimson Tide football program” Saturday by introducing its 28th head coach: Kalen DeBoer, the coach of the Crimson Tide year by the Associated Press who last season led Washington to a berth in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

But first Bell had to recognize outgoing coach Nick Saban, who won the AP award twice – to go along with six national championships – during his 17 seasons at Alabama.

“Your legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of the university,” Bell said of Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time with seven national titles (including one with LSU) and a 307- 88-1.

A full-throated ovation interrupted Bell's speech for a moment.

Saban's presence was felt throughout the afternoon festivities. The five-time SEC Coach of the Year wore a crimson sport coat and sat in the front row, to the left of athletic director Greg Byrne as he spoke inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Before listing DeBoer's credentials and talking about the hiring process, Byrne thanked Saban and hinted at a future celebration for him and his wife, Terry.

Beyond the glass wall behind the stage, a statue of Saban stood along Champions Lane, a testament to the coach's greatness as well as the expectations awaiting his successor.

“When I look at the places I want to be, it’s about winning championships,” DeBoer said. “This is what we expect, and [I] accept [that] as a privilege to try to defend.”

DeBoer credited Saban for establishing a solid foundation, calling him “the best in the business to ever make it.”

“100% access, okay? he said about Saban's involvement going forward. “I’d be an idiot if I didn’t.”

DeBoer, 49, grew up in South Dakota and cut his teeth in the lower echelons of NAIA college football before winning back-to-back Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards at Washington. He spoke to Saban for the first time on Friday. Saturday morning, he said he called the coach back.

The last time DeBoer was at Bryant-Denny Stadium was in 2017, when he was offensive coordinator at Fresno State. He joked about the 41-10 loss to Alabama: “That's not a loss I want to remember.”

But three years later, DeBoer was the head coach at Fresno State. It was there, compiling a 12-6 record in two seasons, that Byrne said the coach caught his eye.

Byrne said he came to Alabama seven years ago as AD knowing his job was to facilitate Saban's tenure for as long as he wanted to remain coach, while also preparing for his eventual retirement. Byrne said he stayed in close contact with Saban during the season, meeting every Sunday, and was not surprised when he decided to call it quits.

“As time went on, I was always preparing, hoping I would never have to execute the plan,” Byrne said.

Byrne was on a flight searching for Saban's replacement the same night the coach announced his resignation. Byrne told the team he would appoint a new coach within 72 hours. It ended up only taking 49.

Byrne slept nine hours over three nights, calling on Saban for advice on several occasions. Not using Saban, Byrne said, would have been “irresponsible.”

“Shame on me if I didn’t want to do that,” he added.

Two of Saban's former players stood at the side of the podium Saturday during DeBoer's introduction: former linebacker Christian Miller and former defensive back Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

DeBoer, who is 104-12, has never coached in the SEC. He acknowledged his lack of familiarity with the conference and region, but said he understands “there has to be some ties to the SEC.” [on staff] it can bridge the gap.

At this time, no assistant coach or staff member has been named.

Given the possibility of players leaving via the transfer portal, DeBoer and Byrne said they understand the sense of urgency to conquer the current roster.

DeBoer met with the team shortly after arriving in Tuscaloosa Friday evening.

“I want you to put yourself in these guys’ shoes,” DeBoer said. “A legendary coach they came to play for [is gone]and now what's the next step? »

DeBoer said he has had several meetings with players, both individually and with team leaders.

“I know how much they want to continue the tradition and how they want to do it the right way,” DeBoer said. “And getting to know me over the last few hours has been great.

“I look forward to the journey ahead of me.”

Fearful of becoming emotional, DeBoer said he thanked his former players in Washington until the end of his speech. And right on cue, he cried.

“It’s a special place to me, it really is,” he said. “It was one of the few places, maybe the only place, that I would ever go.”

Speaking to reporters after the press conference, Byrne said he understands the narrative that no one would want to follow a legend like Saban. If he were a writer, he said, he would probably have the same opinion.

“But as I thought about it over the years, one of the things I thought was it's better to have someone who is comfortable in their own skin and sees it as a challenge and an opportunity, not as harm,” he said. said. “And almost immediately, for Coach DeBoer and [his wife] Nicole too…they saw this as a wonderful opportunity.”