In January, Nick Saban announced that he would retire from coaching. This surprising move led to the hiring of Karen DeBoer.
From the moment DeBoer was officially introduced as the next head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, he was tasked with maintaining Saban's success.
Alabama enters Week 5 of the college football season with a 3-0 record, and Saban praised DeBoer.
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Nick leaves the field after Bryant-Denny Stadium was renamed in honor of Nick Saban during halftime of the University of Alabama's win over South Florida on September 7, 2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Saban. (Gary Cosby Jr./USA Today Network via Imagine Images)
“I'm really impressed with him,” Saban said Friday on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
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“I think he’s probably one of the few players that has been able to do this as seamlessly as it has for him and the players.”
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Karen DeBoer before a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (John Fisher/Getty Images)
Saban, a seven-time national championship-winning coach, also acknowledged the challenges DeBoer faced when he took over the football program, given Alabama's history of success.
“He's done a great job of transitioning, in my opinion, because this is probably one of the most difficult things to do,” Saban said. “When you take over a failing program, everyone welcomes the change. Everyone welcomes the new hope that comes with having a new coach.”
“But when you take over a successful program, how will people react to you? And how will you be received? And how will the changes you make be received? ”
Alabama head coach Karen DeBoer leads her team on the field before a game against Wisconsin on September 14, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Molly Gash)
DeBoer took the coaching helm at Alabama after leading Washington to the College Football Playoff's national championship game. Prior to that, DeBoer coached at Fresno State University for two seasons. DeBoer was also in Sioux Falls and worked as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
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Saban works as an analyst on ESPN's “College GameDay.” The long-running program will air from Tuscaloosa on Saturday ahead of the highly anticipated matchup between the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 4 Alabama.
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