When Kalen DeBoer was named the successor to Nick Saban at Alabama, the weight of the college football world immediately landed on his shoulders. Since arriving, Saban, who won seven national titles, set up a dynasty shaped by discipline and years of unmatched success.
Replacing such a legend was never going to be easy, but as DeBoer now reveals, the early going was more turbulent than anyone imagined. DeBoer spoke with John Gaskins about the difficulties he faced in his early months as head coach, both on the field and due to the expectation of living up to one of the best legacies in college football history.
Kalen DeBoer’s First Year at Alabama Marked by Transfer Losses, Penalties, and Hard-Earned Lessons
At the beginning, DeBoer faced challenges related mostly to overseeing the transfer portal at Alabama. Once the new coach came in, some of the most important players left the team.
His first season coaching at Alabama included both good and bad moments. After an excellent start and a big win over No. 2 Georgia, the Tide performed poorly, finishing their regular season with just nine wins.
It wasn’t just a reflection of the scores. Even though the team had positive moments, Alabama made several costly errors and lost control of the game due to 15 penalties for 115 yards in their game against Tennessee.
In the Happy Hour interview with Gaskins, he reiterated some of the challenges he encountered when he first succeeded Saban. Despite the turbulent times, he spoke about lessons learned.
Like Alabama fans, Kalen DeBoer is not used to losing 4 games. He digs in to how he navigated agonizing losses in Year 1 & this offseason in an hour-long chat with @johnkgaskins
Plus — Saban, Grubb & Sioux Falls memories. LISTEN > https://t.co/3zrK0mNJha #RollTide #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/eyq4xrL5he
— Happy Hour with John Gaskins (@HappyHourwithJG) May 16, 2025
He said, “It was really challenging, but I know I’ve gotten to this point by continuing to fight, swing and steer the course, and to understand and believe the people around you. You’ve got to be flexible and fluid”.
He continued, “I love the challenge of trying to find the little details…It isn’t a matter of what I know or what the coaches know, but it’s about getting these players to understand and getting the necessary feedback…that’s what I love about coaching”.
Not being invincible under DeBoer has shown the program and its followers that things can change. Nick Saban himself pointed out that making the change in the first year would be challenging, as everyone has to get used to a new approach and management.
KEEP READING: Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer Shares Heartfelt Message After Daughter Alexis Wins Big Ten Freshman of the Year
The fact that DeBoer is open-minded, flexible and has a clear perspective has been vital. We will see if he uses his experiences from the first turbulent year to make Alabama the powerhouse it was again.
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