Advertisement

As the Tide turns: A look back at the transition from Saban to DeBoer

ken roberts, tuscaloosa news
·3 min read

The year 2024 will be remembered as a time of transition for University of Alabama football.

Here’s a look back at the changing of the guard in Tuscaloosa:

  • Jan. 1: Alabama’s 2023 season comes to an end as Michigan defeats the Tide 27-20 in overtime in the College Football Playoff semifinal, held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

  • Jan. 8: Michigan wins the national championship by defeating the Washington Huskies and coach Kalen DeBoer.

  • Jan. 10: Nick Saban announces his retirement as Alabama’s head football coach after 17 seasons that included six national championships and 11 SEC titles. UA athletics director Greg Byrne promises a quick and thorough search for Saban’s replacement.

  • Jan. 11: Among the names that emerge to replace Saban included DeBoer, Florida State's Mike Norvell, Oregon's Dan Lanning and Texas' Steve Sarkisian.

  • Jan. 12: Sources confirm that DeBoer agreed to become Alabama’s next football coach. That night, a plane carrying DeBoer arrives at Tuscaloosa’s airport with hundreds of fans welcoming the new coach.

  • Jan. 13: DeBoer is formally introduced as UA’s new coach during a news conference inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

  • Jan. 14-17: Isaiah Bond, the hero of the 2023 Iron Bowl, and standout safety Caleb Downs are among the notable players to leave UA through the transfer portal.

  • Feb. 7: DeBoer signs his first recruiting class at UA, which includes highly touted wide receiver Ryan Williams and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., whose father played for Saban.

  • Feb. 7: ESPN announces that Saban will join the network as an analyst and he will be a member of the popular ESPN College Gameday crew, which airs Saturdays during the fall at different campus sites.

  • Feb. 21: Crimson Tide Sports Marketing announces that longtime UA play-by-play announcer Eli Gold will not return for the 2024 football season. Chris Stewart, who had substituted for Gold and served as UA’s basketball announcer, is named as the new voice of the Crimson Tide.

  • March 1: DeBoer completes his coaching staff, which includes Nick Sheridan as offensive coordinator and Kane Wommack as defensive coordinator. Robert Gillespie and Freddie Roach are retained from Saban’s staff.

  • March 18: UA System trustees approve an eight-year contract that will pay DeBoer more than $10 million per season.

  • April 13: Around 72,358 fans attend DeBoer’s first spring football game as Alabama’s head coach at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

  • June 27: Reports indicate that Saban will be paid $500,000.04 annually as an adviser to the UA athletics department. He also retains an office inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

  • July 17: DeBoer represents UA during the SEC Media Days in Dallas.

  • July 19: The field at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be named Saban Field, according to a resolution approved by a committee of the UA System board of trustees.

  • Aug. 31: The DeBoer era officially begins as Alabama faces Western Kentucky in the season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Jan 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; The University of Alabama introduced new head football coach Kalen DeBoer with a press conference at Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer speaks during the press conference.
Jan 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; The University of Alabama introduced new head football coach Kalen DeBoer with a press conference at Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer speaks during the press conference.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Timeline: How Alabama football moved from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer