Last month, Nick Saban announced his sudden retirement from the Alabama Crimson Tide. The team swiftly replaced him with former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer, and it sounds like he has Saban’s full support – from afar.
During a recent press conference at the 2024 Nick Saban Legacy Award presentation in Birmingham, Alabama, Nick Saban had a pretty clear message for Kalen DeBoer as he takes over the program, letting the coach know that even if he will still be around the Alabama athletics program, he will not be “looking over anyone’s shoulder” and plans to “stay at arm’s length.”
“I haven’t been around. I really tried to stay at arm’s length,” Saban said on Monday according to On3. “I don’t want them to think I’m looking over anyone’s shoulder. I think he’s hired a good staff and I think he’s a good man. I think he’s a great coach and I think he’ll do a really good job.”
It sounds like Saban will make himself available if DeBoer has any questions, but he’s not going to be overbearing or involve himself too much as he gives the new coach space to develop his own program. And that’s probably the correct approach to take.
[On3]
About Kevin Harrish