Nick Saban has been ‘very impressed’ with running back Kalen DeBoer so far this season
In January, Nick Saban announced his retirement from coaching. This dramatic move led to the hiring of Kalen DeBoer.
From the moment DeBoer was officially introduced as the next head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, he was tasked with sustaining Saban’s success.
Alabama enters Week 5 of the college football season with a 3-0 record, and Saban praised DeBoer.
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Nick Saban walks off the field after it was renamed in his honor at Bryant-Denny Stadium during Alabama’s win over South Florida in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Sept. 7, 2024. (Gary Cosby Jr./USA Today Network via Magn Images)
“He impressed me a lot,” Saban said Friday during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
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“I think he’s probably one of the few guys who could have done this as seamlessly as it was for him and the players.”
Kalen DeBoer, head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium Sept. 14, 2024, Madison, Wis. (John Fisher/Getty Images)
Saban, a seven-time national championship coach, also acknowledged the struggles DeBoer faced when taking over the football program given Alabama’s history of success.
“He did a great job, in my opinion, of transitioning, because this is one of the hardest things,” Saban said. “When you take over a system that doesn’t work, everyone welcomes the change. Everyone welcomes the new hope that comes from having a new coach.
“But when you run a successful program, you know, what will people say to you? And how will you be accepted? And how will the changes you make be accepted?”
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer leads his team on the field before a game against Wisconsin Sept. 14, 2024, Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
DeBoer took over the coaching duties at Alabama after leading Washington to an appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship game. Prior to that, DeBoer coached at Fresno State for two seasons. DeBoer also worked with Sioux Falls and served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
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Saban serves as an analyst on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” The long program will air from Tuscaloosa on Saturday before the highly anticipated game between the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 4 Alabama.
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