When Kalen DeBoer accepted the head coaching job for the Alabama Crimson Tide, he knew he had big shoes to fill. The man whose shoes he was attempting to fill was sitting in the front row of the introductory press conference.
DeBoer started his speech with a brief analysis of his coaching style. He also said that his offensive strategies are based on his players’ potential. He stated that it’s the coaching staff’s duty to understand and support players in reaching their full potential and accomplishing their goals.
Kalen DeBoer’s Plan for Navigating Roster Turnover
In his welcome speech, DeBoer also made a crucial point that he knew legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban would appreciate.
“Yes, we’re going to recruit the best,” DeBoer said.
But at this moment, the Alabama Crimson Tide was experiencing a mass exodus through the transfer portal. Some of the ‘Bama faithful even left for rival teams within the SEC.
This roster implosion proved to be DeBoer’s biggest challenge in his first year in Tuscaloosa. Since the 2024 season ended, Alabama has lost more than 40 players between the portal, graduation, and the 2025 NFL Draft.
DeBoer’s New Coaching Staff
With Year One of the “DeBoer Dynasty” in the books for Alabama, the former Washington Huskies coach will bring on Ryan Grubb, an offensive coordinator most recently with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, who worked with DeBoer at “UW.”
In a recent interview with BamaOnLine, DeBoer explained his connection to the NFL offensive coordinator.
MORE ‘BAMA NEWS: Former NFL OC Ryan Grubb Joins Alabama Crimson Tide
“We go way back,” DeBoer said. “Great friend of mine. I think the world of him as a football coach, obviously as a person, too. I know he’s working through his process, just kind of after what last season brought. So, [I] just gotta see what he does there, and I am here for him whenever he needs me.”
The Alabama Crimson Tide will kick off their 2025 campaign with a road trip on Aug. 30 to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on the Florida State Seminoles.
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