When Kalen DeBoer was hired as Alabama’s head coach last year, replacing Nick Saban, a lot of people wondered what the difference would be between him and Nick Saban.
While Saban is seen as a hard-nose, no-nonsense coach, many wonder what Kalen DeBoer’s style would be like. Would he be just as tough?
Crimson Tide players were asked by AL .com about the difference between the two coaching styles of DeBoer and Saban.
Offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts, who is a fifth-year senior, describes what it’s like to play for the two coaches. One different thing is personality.
“Oh, definitely personality,” Roberts said. “You know, Coach DeBoer wants to get to know his team, get to know his players. 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.”
Some people thought that maybe DeBoer was a little bit too laid back compared to Saban, but his players think that isn’t the case at all.
While DeBoer is more laidback at times, he can be just as intense as Saban, as running back Jam Miller and offensive lineman Kadyen Proctor describe.
“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.”
Proctor echoes Miller’s statements.
“Like if, if you get into the team room and he’s addressing the team, he’s obviously going to be harsh on us,” Proctor said. “If something goes bad, he’s going to be harsh on us like Coach Saban was. But if he’s outside or he’s doing media, he’s gonna make it fun. That’s probably something that’s different than Coach Saban.”
Players don’t want the fans and the media to mistake DeBoer’s laidback demeanor as being soft; he can be just as tough and demanding as Nick Saban.