TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The new era of Alabama football began as Kalen DeBoer arrived in Tuscaloosa on Friday night to take over as the 28th head coach of the Crimson Tide. DeBoer’s arrival came just hours after news of his hiring broke and only a little over two days following the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban, his predecessor.
As DeBoer stepped off the plane at Tuscaloosa National Airport at around 8:37 p.m. central time, fans gathered to welcome him. The crowd chanted “ALA-BAMA, ALA-BAMA” while recording the moment on their phones. The temperature was around 50 degrees. DeBoer’s wife, Nicole, and their two daughters, Alexis and Avery, were also present, along with Washington team general manager Courtney Morgan.
Greg Byrne, the athletics director at the University of Alabama, greeted the fans and exchanged “Roll Tides” with them. Byrne had reportedly given himself a 72-hour timeframe to find a replacement for Saban. Jokingly, he told reporters that he was tired. However, once DeBoer arrived wearing a gray quarterzip, their tiredness turned into smiles. DeBoer spent some time with the fans before getting into a Black SUV driven by Byrne, and together they headed towards campus.
In a press release provided by the program, Byrne expressed his confidence in DeBoer as he emphasized the coach’s winning track record and his commitment to his players. According to Byrne, DeBoer possesses the qualities of a great coach, both in terms of strategic knowledge and care for the athletes. The athletics director stated that DeBoer is someone he would want his own sons to play for, just like he would have wanted them to play for Saban.
Later that evening, DeBoer entered the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility to meet with the players, who had gathered for a mandatory team meeting. Fans and news cameras were present to capture the moment and cheer on the new head coach as he officially began his tenure leading the Crimson Tide.
The official introduction of DeBoer as the head coach of the Alabama football team will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
To conclude, the Kalen DeBoer era has begun in Alabama as he takes over the reins of the Crimson Tide football program following the retirement of Nick Saban. DeBoer’s arrival was met with excitement from fans and support from the University of Alabama’s athletics director, Greg Byrne. The new head coach is admired for his winning track record and his dedication to the well-being of his players. DeBoer’s first official appearance will be on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.