Alabama introduced new coach Kalen DeBoer on Saturday afternoon, as the school officially put a bow on a wild week that began with Nick Saban’s retirement on Wednesday and concluded with the introduction of the former Washington coach as Saban’s successor just 72 hours later.
DeBoer began by thanking a litany of individuals for the opportunity presented to him as Alabama’s next coach, but went into detail about Saban himself, who was front and center with his wife Terry at Saturday’s presser.
“Coach Saban, thank you for all you’ve done,” DeBoer began. “For laying the foundation for myself and the rest of this staff that we’ll hire, and for these players to continue building on everything you’ve done here. … He’s the best in the business to ever do it. I’m just gonna make sure that’s all known that that’s how I feel, and 100% access, O.K.? To everything. I would be a fool if that wasn’t the case. I would be a fool. I’m gonna ask him that he shows up and makes sure he gives me at least one thing everyday. I’m sure he’s gonna have 10. But I’m gonna be good with that … at least one thing everyday that he sees that we can get better at.”
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Saban told ESPN earlier this week that he plans to still be present and to have an office at the football facility to provide assistance to his successor in any way that he can.
Saban released a statement on Friday after DeBoer’s hire was made official, and threw his full support behind the school’s new head coach.
“I want nothing more than to see Alabama football continue to be successful, and Coach DeBoer is an outstanding choice to lead this program,” Saban’s statement began. “He has a proven track record of success and is one of the brightest football minds. Coach DeBoer has an excellent understanding of what it takes to be a successful head coach, whether it’s coaching, recruiting, developing players or building a culture. He has done a fantastic job at every stop of his coaching career, and I am excited to see what he will be able to accomplish in Tuscaloosa. Terry and I will be here to support Coach DeBoer and his family with anything they need.”
It is tough to replace a legend, but DeBoer is well positioned to build off the championship culture that Saban built in Tuscaloosa.
