Alabama Names Kalen DeBoer as New Head Coach After Nick Saban’s Retirement
In a swift move, the Alabama Crimson Tide has officially introduced Kalen DeBoer as the successor to the legendary Nick Saban, who retired just 72 hours ago. The coaching decision has sparked a lot of discussion and analysis from experts, with some shedding light on why DeBoer was the chosen one.
Paul Finebaum, a prominent voice in college football, shared his perspective on the Auburn Undercover Podcast. According to Finebaum, DeBoer was the best available candidate for the Crimson Tide, emphasizing that Alabama had no intention of bringing back Lane Kiffin as the head coach.
“I think (Kalen) DeBoer was probably the best of the available,” Finebaum expressed. “I’m not including Lane Kiffin, who was available and who would have taken it, but clearly they did not want him.”
DeBoer undoubtedly boasts an impressive coaching resume in the world of college football. With nine seasons of head coaching experience, he has accumulated a remarkable record of 104 wins against only 12 losses. DeBoer’s leadership has guided his teams to five national championship appearances, and he has earned the National Coach of the Year award six times throughout his career, including three NAIA Coach of the Year titles.
While reports had linked Lane Kiffin to the Alabama job, it became apparent that he was not among the top contenders for the position. ESPN’s Greg McElroy even went as far as stating that Kiffin had a ‘zero-percent chance’ of becoming the next head coach in Tuscaloosa.