This is part two of a four part series, where I, Mar’Quell Fripp-Owens, dive deep into one head coach from each of the Power Four conferences in College Football.
The goal of this series is to highlight coaches poised to step into big shoes, those carrying the weight of expectations, and those with a chance to reshape their legacy.
Next up: SEC
Kalen DeBoer, your turn.
Walking in the shadows of those who’ve walked before you is often a task within itself.
Those same shadows present an even tougher task when your predecessor has left a mark so profound that the chances of you adequately living up to those expectations are so slim that it almost makes you wonder, is it worth it to even try?
A 206-29 record and a resume that includes six National Championships split equally between the BCS era and the College Football Playoff era and an 120-18 record in what is known as the toughest conference in college football is what Kalen DeBoer is walking into.
It’s clear that Nick Saban became the standard of sorts when it comes to success at the collegiate level.
That’s why, in order to not replicate but replace this legend, the Crimson Tide needed to not just make a big swing, but make the right swing in order to maintain relevance in the new era of the SEC.
For Alabama, there weren’t many hires that fit the bill better than Kalen DeBoer.
Fresh off a National Championship appearance with Washington, DeBoer is no stranger to big games or big moments, and that includes the spotlight that follows them.
Whether dominating on the gridiron, where he shattered numerous NCAA records at Sioux Falls, or launching his head coaching career he amassed a remarkable record of 67-3.
This including an outstanding 49-1 in conference play and guiding the team to three National Championships at the NAIA level.
You want to talk about his stop at Southern Illinois as the offensive coordinator? Those Salukis teams were able to beat ten top-25 opponents during his four years.
His time as an OC at Indiana? The Hoosiers won the most games it had in 26 seasons, partly due to an offense that averaged 432.8 yards per game.
What about Fresno State? Well which stint, offensive coordinator or head coach? No matter the ask, both were quite successful stops.
DeBoer then became the first Washington coach to win 11 or more games in consecutive seasons, not to mention holding a 12-2 record against top 25 opponents combined during his stints in Fresno and Seattle.
26 years of coaching with nine seasons as a head coach. DeBoer was able to accumulate an 104-12 record.
While his level of success is quite impressive, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the man he’s tasked with replacing. If Nick Saban however, were able to give some words of advice to his successor, surely it would sound something like this:
“What happened yesterday is history. What happens tomorrow is a mystery. What we do today makes a difference. The precious present moment.”
Despite expectations being at an all time high and a mount of pressure building, DeBoer is in position to not only write his own story, but possibly even make some history of his own in the process.
What do I mean?
Well, despite the storied coaches surrounding this program and the success they’ve shared, the first season hasn’t always been so kind.
Nick Saban finished 7-6 in his first season, which became the only season he wasn’t able to win double digit games during his tenure.
Dennis Franchione 7-5 in 2001 and Mike Shula finished 4-9 in 2003.
Even the great Bear Bryant went 5-4-1 during his first season way back in 1958.
In fact, the best win total by an Alabama head coach in his first season prior to 1941 is 8-4 by Ray Perkins in 1984.
While this Alabama group may have seen its fair share of change, with 30 players entering the transfer portal during the offseason, there is plenty of reason to believe this group could not only set the mark for wins in the first season under DeBoer, but also set the stage for what is to come in the future.
For starters, having the opportunity to work with a quarterback with a skillset as special as Jalen Milroe, presents DeBoer with something he hasn’t seen before in terms of the skillset of the player.
In fact, there’s some optimism that this partnership will allow both parties expand their platform into what could potentially become one of college footballs most electric offenses.
And it’s not just the passing game where DeBoer has made himself famous for being able to scheme pass catcher open, which is something guys such as Germie Bernard and Kobe Prentice will appreciate, but this should also open an element of the rushing game in a way we haven’t seen from DeBoer since his Indiana days.
Not to mention this might possibly be the most talented defensive group that he’s had the opportunity to coach.
This is a defensive unit that, while the on the field product in terms of schematics may look a lot different than what Alabama fans have become accustomed to, they can still expect a variation of the 4-2-5 just with a Kane Wommack twist.
This is all just a part of the change that we discussed earlier. While DeBoer is doing his part to ensure that the change is a steady and gradual process, you can slowly begin to see his finger prints on the program.
“I also think there’s a time to make each team its own, and a team within a program,” DeBoer said.
“Last year’s team had the “LANK” (Let A Naysayer Know) mentality.”
“And I think that still will carry on in a strong way, just because there are a lot of doubters, and these guys are feeling that on what our season could be.”
“I’m enjoying carrying that on, but I want each team to make that season and the mantras that we have, or whatever it might be. There are program mantras but also things each team can hang their hats on.”
DeBoer understands not just what he’s getting himself into, but exactly what ‘winning’ at this program actually means and the standards that were set before him.
And while he understands the success of the blueprint that coach Saban utilized before him, DeBoer also understands that while some may travel the same road, it’s rare that the steps are identical.
“There was always this understanding of how things were done, and they were done the right way. Through discipline, through hard work, through physicality on the football field,” DeBoer continued.
“All these pieces, whether they were core values or style of play. You always look to the champions and those who are the best of the best.”
Was DeBoer the right man for the job? Only time will tell, but what we do know is that he will be under the microscope early and often.
The scrutiny of a high profile SEC job is already polarizing enough, but it’s almost maniacal considering the magnitude of the circumstances.
But sometimes an idea is so crazy that it just might work.
Cover Image Credit: Gary Cosby Jr./ Tuscaloosa News
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