Kalen DeBoer introduced as Alabama’s new head football coach at news conference
Action 8 News was at the University of Alabama with Action Cam as Kalen DeBoer spoke publicly for the first time as Alabama’s new head football coach.
A news conference was held inside Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday afternoon as University President Stuart Bell and Athletic Director Greg Byrne welcomed him to Tuscaloosa. Retiring Coach Nick Saban was there but did not take the stage.
Bell called DeBoer the “perfect person” to lead the football program into the future.
Byrne said he told the team when Saban announced his retirement on Wednesday to give him 72 hours to find a new coach. Byrne said the search was wrapped up in 49 hours. He and DeBoer had met in Seattle, Washington, two days ago. DeBoer is coming from the University of Washington, where he was head coach for the past two seasons.
Byrne said of DeBoer, “he is a winner,” and pointed out DeBoer’s 104-12 record in a nine-year coaching career that included stops at Sioux Falls and Fresno State before landing the Washington job. DeBoer was 25-3 at Washington. This season, the Huskies went undefeated in the regular season, won the PAC-12 and made it to the National Championship Game before falling to Michigan on Monday night.
DeBoer thanked Byrne and the University of Alabama for trusting him with the program that reached historic success under Saban, who won six national titles at Alabama.
DeBoer said of Saban, “He’s the best in the business to ever do it.” DeBoer promised Saban “100% access” as Saban starts his retirement but will maintain an office inside the stadium. DeBoer said he would like Saban to give him one thing — maybe ten things — that the team could get better at doing.
DeBoer says he knows the expectation is to win SEC and national championships. He said the team would meet those goals with class, integrity and academic excellence. He promised to build better men because football will be over for his players someday.
Most new head football coaches come in because a previous coach has been fired or has left for a better job. For DeBoer, there is not a rebuilding to do in Tuscaloosa, nor has the former coach moved on to something else. He will have Saban when he needs him and resources that didn’t exist at Washington. But there will be positions to fill on the coaching staff and on the field.
Alabama’s first game under Coach DeBoer will be when the Crimson Tide hosts Western Kentucky August 31. His first SEC game will be at home against Coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 28. He will face archrival Tennessee in Knoxville and Auburn at home for the Iron Bowl.
Watch the video above to see the news conference in its entirety from Action 8 News.
