The conventional wisdom in looking for a replacement for Nick Saban is that Alabama Crimson Tide football should hire someone that is part of his coaching tree.
Saban, regarded as the unofficial greatest college football coach of all time, retired from his Alabama post after 17 years and six trophies.
The 72-year-old's 2023 and last season ended with a College Football Playoffs Top 4 finish as they lost to eventual champions Michigan Wolverines.
That conventional wisdom was abandoned. The football program instead signed Kalen DeBoer who led the Washington Huskies to a CFP finals appearance.
Alabama could have gone after someone who underwent Saban's coaching tree. It would at least minimize the risk of major changes.
However, that's not what they were thinking of when they hired DeBoer.
1. Track record speaks for him
He and Saban speak the same language. They are both winners.
Records-wise before joining Alabama, DeBoer has the best record at 104-12 (.896).
He brings life to the teams he joins. With Sioux Falls, which he coached from 2005 to 2009, he won three NAIA Football National Championships (2006, 2008, and 2009) and ended with an overall record of 67-3.
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He is also credited for resurrecting the Washington Huskies who were 4-8 in 2021 when he came in. The team also had a lackluster offense, leaving him with no choice but to overhaul it.
He ended his first season with the Huskies with an 11-2 record, concluded by a 27-20 victory over the Texas Longhorns at the Alamo Bowl.
The 2023 season was just as good as their only loss (14-1) was against the Michigan Wolverines at the CFP National Championships.
2. Players' coach, recruiting prowess can get better
"One of the things I told our team the other day is we are going to get someone who is not only a great coach with the Xs and Os, but also someone who cares about his players and someone I'd want my sons to play for, just like I would have wanted them to play for Coach Saban," Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said about DeBoer's hiring.
Michael Penix Jr. is more than enough proof of this side of the 49-year-old mentor.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up had his best year under the guidance of DeBoer who is regarded as a quarterback guru. It should be noted though that the pair worked together already in the Indiana Hoosiers program.
Penix Jr. had his best quarterback rating (136.5) with the Huskies. In his three college seasons with DeBoer, his worst quarterback rating was 151.3.
Their dynamic relationship was shown best when Penix Jr. played a near-perfect game against the Texas Longhorn, throwing for 430 yards that led to two touchdowns, and zero sacks.
As for the recruitment process, it will only get better for DeBoer with Alabama now attached to his name.
The University of Washington football program ranked 26th in 2023. Their biggest recruit was four-star, top-100 ranked quarterback signee Austin Mack.
However, he failed to recruit a Top 20 prospect in his two years with Washington. That should not be much of a concern. Alabama is like a pit stop for players who want to reach the NFL. That should make his job easy.
3. Endorsement from Saban himself
No better endorsement than that of the man you replaced. It is like getting handpicked.
"Coach DeBoer has an excellent understanding of what it takes to be a successful head coach, whether it's coaching, recruiting, developing players or building a culture," Saban said in a statement.
"He has done a fantastic job at every stop of his coaching career, and I am excited to see what he will be able to accomplish in Tuscaloosa."
This sounds cliché but if one knows how formidable Saban's coaching tree is, it is hard to question the words he used for DeBoer.
Related article: Nick Saban's 5 Most Memorable Moments in His Alabama Football Coaching Career
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