It was all the time going to be a troublesome spot for brand spanking new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Not solely was he changing a residing legend in Nick Saban, however he needed to deal with the uncertainty of Saban’s previous gamers and recruits leaving Tuscaloosa. Sadly, that is precisely what occurred in DeBoer’s first week as head coach. A number of prime recruits and gamers left, together with celebrity security Caleb Downs
Its not as if DeBoer was shocked by the turnover, although. Actually, he not too long ago advised Dan Patrick that his first few days as head coach had been spent merely getting entrance of Saban’s previous workforce as a way to guarantee them that they had been nonetheless in good arms.
“Simply the craziness of school athletics, and notably the portal, and simply making an attempt to be sure that they bought a really feel for who I used to be,” DeBoer mentioned (h/t On3). “within the second, as quickly as I landed, bought in entrance of them.”
However the subsequent 4 days or so making an attempt to fulfill with them individually, in teams. You’re making an attempt to construct a employees on the similar time and displaying them the imaginative and prescient and feeling the personalities of people who might be coming into this system to educate them,” he continued. “In order that stability proper there saved me busy for these 4 or 5 days.”
It is price noting that at the very least one participant has been impressed together with his new head coach’s skill to transition throughout this loopy time in Tuscaloosa. Arguably, it is an important participant that he retained, too, particularly if the Crimson Tide wish to be Faculty Soccer Playoff contenders in DeBoer’s first season.
“It’s been nice. It’s been nice to have him right here with the transition, it’s been large having him right here and all that he’s carried out,” quarterback Jalen Milroe mentioned. “He’s very personable and he’s bringing good vitality to the locker room, so we’re all excited to have him right here.
DeBoer brings prompt credibility with him due to Washington’s CFP run final season, however he’ll must sustain that vitality and pleasure at Alabama as a result of he will not get a ton of wiggle room within the post-Saban period.
He is been busy, however he wants to remain busy.
