Home / Sports / Alabama's New Coach Kalen DeBoer Challenges Saban's Legendary Approach
Alabama's New Coach Kalen DeBoer Challenges Saban's Legendary Approach
7 Aug
Summary
- Kalen DeBoer brings a more personable, family-oriented coaching style compared to Nick Saban's tough, no-nonsense approach
- DeBoer can be just as intense and demanding as Saban when needed, despite his laidback demeanor
- Players emphasize DeBoer's efforts to get to know them individually, in contrast to Saban's more impersonal style

In the year since Kalen DeBoer was hired as Alabama's new head coach, replacing the legendary Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide players have noticed a significant shift in the team's coaching dynamic. While Saban is widely regarded as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense leader, DeBoer has brought a more personable and family-oriented approach to the program.
According to fifth-year senior offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts, one of the key differences is DeBoer's emphasis on getting to know his players as individuals. "Coach DeBoer wants to get to know his team, get to know his players," Roberts explained. "And I'm not saying Coach Saban didn't, but Coach DeBoer has really done a good job in getting to know everybody's individuals and then bringing us in as a group and really making this feel like more a family type of team."
However, this more laidback demeanor does not mean DeBoer is any less demanding or intense than his predecessor. As running back Jam Miller and offensive lineman Kadyen Proctor described, DeBoer can be just as tough on his players when necessary. "You know, he's coaching us hard, you know?" Miller said. "He's not an easy, relaxing coach. You know, you make one mistake, you know, he gonna get on to you about it."
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Proctor echoed these sentiments, noting that while DeBoer may be more relaxed in certain settings, he can be "harsh" when addressing the team about mistakes or poor performance, similar to Saban's approach. The players emphasize that they don't want fans or the media to mistake DeBoer's personable style for softness, as he has proven to be just as demanding and intense as the legendary Saban.