Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer addresses the elephant in the room regarding his replacement of Nick Saban
In coaching, they often say you don't want to be the guy that replaces THE guy. And for Alabama, and college athletics as a whole, Nick Saban is the pinnacle of coaching. So Kalen DeBoer knows what he's stepping into, but perhaps more importantly, he knows he has to win over the players who came […]
In coaching, they often say you don't want to be the guy that replaces THE guy.
And for Alabama, and college athletics as a whole, Nick Saban is the pinnacle of coaching.
So Kalen DeBoer knows what he's stepping into, but perhaps more importantly, he knows he has to win over the players who came to Alabama to be coached by Saban:
DeBoer on how he handles coaching players who come to UA for Saban
“It’s just been awesome embracing everything that Coach Saban has done for this program and really celebrating what he’s accomplished over that time, DeBoer told reporters at the SEC's spring meetings earlier this week. "And I know we have a full roster of players that were recruited specifically, yes to come to Alabama but also to play for Coach Saban as their head coach. And so I understand that fully, as well, and I want to make sure that that connection is always there and that they always feel like they can reach out to the coach that recruited them at the beginning. And also that Coach Saban knows he’s always got an open door to the program, as well. I’ve referred to it a few different times that this is our program. When I say ours, it’s all those people that have been a part of it for many years. That, of course, includes Coach Saban.”
Just because Coach Saban is no longer "Coach" it doesn't mean he won't have a profound impact on the team and program as a whole. He still holds an office at the Capstone and will be an ambassador to Alabama for as long as he wishes.
"I'm still going to have a presence here at the university in some form and [I'm] trying to figure out all that and how it works, Saban told ESPN back in January. "This is a place that will never be too far away from Miss Terry's and my hearts."
But there will undoubtedly be an adjustment period. DeBoer knows that, just like he knows he can't be Saban, but instead aims to be the best version of himself.
With success, those players who came to be coached by Saban will stay around, and the incoming classes that committed to be part of his program will grow confident in the next generation of Alabama football.
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