Bussin' With The Boys – "Best of the Bus: Kalen DeBoer on Taking Over From Nick Saban + Implementing His Own Culture"

Date: December 13, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Kalen DeBoer (Head Football Coach, Alabama)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on an engaging, wide-ranging conversation with Kalen DeBoer, the head coach who succeeded Nick Saban at Alabama. Will and Taylor dig into DeBoer’s road from Washington to taking over college football’s most storied program, how he’s handling the immense expectations, the culture changes he’s making, and how he’s integrating his football philosophy with the legacy Saban left behind.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transition from Washington to Alabama

• Life After the Championship Loss

  • DeBoer reflects on the bittersweet departure from Washington, describing it as likely “the best time of our life” for his family. He emphasizes how special that community and team were and how quickly the move to Alabama happened.
    • Quote: “The timing of everything, I think, is what really makes it extra, extra hard...My time at Washington is going to be, for me and my family, probably the best time of our life.” (10:07)

• The Alabama Offer

  • The offer came fast and required a major, 24-hour decision. DeBoer explains the urgency of keeping the Crimson Tide program stable and together post-Saban.
    • Quote: “I pretty much had to make the decision if I was offered the job…just the urgency that it needed to be to keep the program moving forward.” (11:17)

• Decision Factors

  • DeBoer insists there were no nerves due to his contentment at Washington. The primary concern was fit, not just prestige.
    • Quote: “It was more about making sure that this was going to be a good fit...In all honesty, no [there weren't nerves], because I was at a great place.” (14:11)

2. Succeeding Nick Saban & Managing Expectation

• Inheriting a Dynasty

  • DeBoer shares how the experience he built “just focusing on where I’m at” keeps him level-headed, not intimidated by Saban’s shadow.
    • Quote: “It was never even about getting to an Alabama or...to a Washington. It was about just coaching ball, loving the moment we’re in...” (15:54)

• Respecting the Past, Building the Future

  • DeBoer is effusive about Saban’s respectfulness during the transition and the intense Alabama pride among the players and alumni.
    • Quote: “Coach Saban...he’s almost been over the top respectful, trying to keep that distance—but I want him to always know...this is our program, because everyone who ever set foot in these buildings...I want them to be a part of it.” (16:47)

• Weight of Taking Over

  • The hosts joke about the weight of replacing Saban. DeBoer acknowledges the unique pressure—Alabama players expect championships, not just wins.
    • Quote: “You know what you signed up for...They are just so proud of this program...They want to be the ones that carry on the legacy of this place.” (18:19)

3. Building Alabama’s New Culture

• Player Development & Culture

  • DeBoer emphasizes relationships, energy, fun, and focusing on the process. His core non-negotiables: family, accountability, and toughness.
    • Quote: "It was the relationships, it was...the consistency we got from the people that were in the building or on the team…” (08:49)

• Environmental “Wrinkles”

  • An early headline from DeBoer’s tenure: music at practice—something new at Alabama. He discusses the benefits for both energy and replicating game-day distractions.
    • Quote: "We play music in practice, you know, so that was something that hadn't been done before. I think there’s a lot of benefits that can come from it..." (30:03)

• Traditions & Details

  • DeBoer respects existing Alabama traditions (the Walk, Fourth Quarter program, enforcing details like tucked-in shirts), blends them with his own, and is not rigid for tradition’s sake.
    • Quote: “The pride they have in some of the simple things, you know, how they look and...for workouts and practice, those are just things...the pride of the place comes out.” (27:47)

• “How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything”

  • Both coach and hosts echo on the importance of details—appearance, manners, picking up after oneself—as a reflection of team culture and expectations.
    • Quote: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” (33:47 & 35:47)

4. On Leadership & Staff

• Quarterback Relationship

  • Speaks glowingly of Jalen Milroe: “He just has a heart of gold...takes on the responsibilities...with such grace...” (19:41)

• Hiring & Staff Development

  • DeBoer discusses nurturing staff who will someday become head coaches, maintaining continuity, and drawing from his wide coaching network.
    • Quote: “There are guys that I would love...I'm strong on trying to keep the continuity of your system...But, you know, I hope we are so successful to where those opportunities come up for our staff.” (44:48)

5. Recruiting Philosophy

• Intangibles Matter
  • Seeks athletes who show toughness, discipline, accountability, positive energy, and a drive to grow—not a sense of “arrival.”
    • Quote: “We always talk about in terms of our non-negotiables: being family, accountable, and toughness. And...doing it the right way, with class and integrity.” (26:22)

6. Life, Family & Locker Room Culture

• “Dad Hat” Origin & The ‘Dad Club’

  • Will, Doug, and Coach share about their families, poking fun at the “dad merch” and the shared bond of being girl dads.
    • Memorable banter about gender reveals and disappointment versus joy.
    • “It's awesome being a girl dad.” – Kalen DeBoer (05:23)

• Post-Game Rituals

  • DeBoer’s favorite: spending time with family and, when possible, staff. Emphasizes enjoying a win for a moment before the work starts again.
    • Quote: “It’s always with the family...Winning a football game is hard...enjoying it for that little moment before you flip the Sunday morning.” (46:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Alabama Culture:
  “You walk in the door and you look at a bunch of rings and watches immediately...you’re like, oh my God, we're in the presence of greatness.” – Will (47:24)

• Player Mindset:
  “These guys...they believe in this place and they know what we can accomplish. I have an appreciation that they understand that it’s really about them and them sticking together.” – DeBoer (18:19)

• On Succeeding Saban:
  “Was there any point for you where you sit down...and you go, oh, fuck. Like, this is...I mean, there's got to be a level of, like, this is a lot of responsibility.” – Doug (17:50)

• On Learning as a Head Coach:
  “Never stop learning, never stop growing.” – Kalen DeBoer (40:28)

• Team Standards:
  “Looking good for us is important. And this is one of the things that we think is about looking good and looking unified...it shows that...the simple things, we’re not going to overlook those...” – DeBoer (32:37)

Important Timestamps

• Transition from Washington to Alabama: 10:07 – 11:17
• Decision process, nerves & fit: 14:11
• Embracing Alabama culture & Saban’s legacy: 15:54 – 18:19
• Jalen Milroe relationship: 19:34 – 20:32
• Recruiting values & character: 26:10 – 27:24
• Alabama traditions & music at practice: 27:32 – 31:51
• Details matter – locker room, discipline: 32:25 – 35:47
• On staff loyalty, continuity, and development: 44:48
• Post-game rituals & family: 46:02 – 47:12

Tone & Style

The conversation is energetic, candid, often funny (“Dad merch” and “fighting SEC head coaches”) yet sincere. DeBoer is steady, thoughtful, and humble, while Will and Taylor keep things loose, relatable, and respectful—always digging for culture insight with a player’s and coach’s eye.

Takeaways

• Kalen DeBoer approaches the Alabama job with humility, clarity, and a family-oriented, detail-obsessed process.
• He balances honoring Alabama traditions with inserting his own energy and systems without force.
• Player relationships and staff development are core.
• The “little things”—from tucked shirts to postgame family time—are non-negotiables that DeBoer believes foster championship culture, in step with but also distinct from the Saban era.
• The immense weight and pride of succeeding Saban, and the expectation of continued excellence, are addressed openly and with optimism.

For new fans and long-time Bama faithful, this episode is a must-listen for understanding not just who DeBoer is as a coach, but as a leader, as the era-after-Saban officially begins on the Capstone.