If you walk through the Mal Moore Athletic Facility in Tuscaloosa right now, the air feels a little different than it did for nearly two decades. The statues of legends remain outside Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the man holding the whistle today isn't Nick Saban. Since early 2024, Kalen DeBoer has been the man who coaches Alabama football, and honestly, the transition has been one of the most scrutinized handovers in the history of American sports.
Following a legend is usually a thankless job. You’re essentially tasked with maintaining a Ferrari while everyone waits for you to scratch the paint. But after two full seasons in the hot seat, DeBoer has proven he isn't just a placeholder. He's a winner.
Who Coaches Alabama Football Right Now?
The short answer is Kalen DeBoer, but the long answer involves a massive infrastructure of elite assistants and support staff that keep the Crimson Tide machine humming. DeBoer arrived from Washington with a reputation as an "offensive wizard," a guy who turned Michael Penix Jr. into a Heisman finalist and led the Huskies to a National Championship appearance.
Coming into the 2026 season, DeBoer’s seat is firm but the expectations are, as always, sky-high. He just wrapped up a 2025 campaign where Alabama went 11–4, made it to the SEC Championship game, and fought their way into the College Football Playoff. They ultimately fell to Indiana in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026—a loss that stung, sure, but it also showed that the Tide isn't going anywhere.
The Architect: Kalen DeBoer’s Profile
- Previous Stop: University of Washington (Head Coach)
- Alabama Record (through 2025): 20–8
- Style: High-flying, modern spread offense with a "Swarm" defense.
- The Vibe: More approachable than Saban, but just as obsessed with the details.
It’s weird seeing someone else on that sideline. You've got to remember that for 17 years, Saban was the fixed point in the universe for Alabama fans. DeBoer doesn’t do the "Process" in the exact same way, but his results speak for themselves. He’s already one of the best in the country at beating ranked opponents, holding an insane winning percentage against the Top 25.
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The Staff Behind the Success
You can’t talk about who coaches Alabama football without looking at the coordinators. In Tuscaloosa, the assistant coaches are often paid more than the head coaches at smaller schools. This is a blue-blood program; the staff is built like an NFL front office.
The Offensive Room
The big news heading into 2026 is the stability and slight shuffling of the offensive staff. Ryan Grubb is the Offensive Coordinator. He actually had a brief stint with the Seattle Seahawks before returning to the college ranks to reunite with DeBoer. They speak the same language.
Behind them, things have shifted recently. Bryan Ellis, who previously coached tight ends, is moving over to handle the Quarterbacks. This is a huge move. Ellis has a history with guys like Sam Darnold and knows how to develop elite signal-callers. With star recruits like Keelon Russell in the room, Ellis has some serious talent to mold.
The Defensive "Swarm"
On the other side of the ball, Kane Wommack runs the show as the Defensive Coordinator. He brought over the "Swarm" defense, a 4-2-5 base that emphasizes speed and versatility. It’s a departure from the heavy, old-school SEC defenses of the mid-2000s, but it’s necessary to stop the modern Air Raid offenses.
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Freddie Roach is a name you should know. He’s the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Line coach. He’s the bridge between the Saban era and the DeBoer era. Having a guy like Roach—an Alabama alum who knows the "standard"—has been vital for roster retention.
Why the 2026 Season is a Turning Point
Alabama fans are spoiled. I say that with love, but a three-loss season feels like a disaster in Northport and Hoover. DeBoer’s 11–4 record in 2025 was objectively good, but the 38-3 blowout loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl left a bitter taste.
2026 is about closing that gap. The recruiting hasn't dropped off, which was the biggest fear when Saban retired. DeBoer has consistently landed top-5 classes. He’s proving that the "A" on the helmet still carries weight, but he’s also showing he can win the "Portal Era."
Key Staff Changes for 2026
- Derrick Nix joined as the Wide Receivers coach, replacing JaMarcus Shephard (who took the head coaching job at Oregon State). Nix is an SEC veteran from the Ole Miss and Auburn systems.
- Nick Sheridan, a key DeBoer lieutenant, left to run the offense at Michigan State. This led to the promotion of Bryan Ellis mentioned earlier.
- Jay Nunez continues to handle Special Teams, a unit that remained solid even through the transition.
The Pressure of the Standard
People often ask if the "Alabama Standard" is dead. It’s not. It’s just evolving. DeBoer isn't trying to be a Saban clone. He wears different hats, literally and figuratively. But the expectation remains: win the SEC, get to the playoffs, and bring home hardware.
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He recently said in a press conference that there is a "fine line" between being a playoff participant and being the champion. He knows he’s on the right side of that line, but the fans want to see him cross it. The 2026 schedule is brutal—opening against East Carolina sounds easy, but then they dive straight into a revamped SEC gauntlet.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the coaching situation in Tuscaloosa, keep these three things in mind for the coming months:
- Watch the QB Development: With Bryan Ellis taking over the quarterbacks, keep an eye on how Keelon Russell and the other young passers progress. The DeBoer system lives and dies by the QB's ability to process post-snap.
- Recruiting Retention: Pay attention to the "Bama Standard" in the transfer portal. DeBoer has been elite at keeping his own stars, like safety Bray Hubbard, from leaping to other programs.
- Defensive Identity: Kane Wommack’s defense ranked 14th nationally last year. For Alabama to win a title in 2026, that unit likely needs to break into the top 5 to compensate for the occasional offensive shootout.
The person who coaches Alabama football is more than just a strategist; they are the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation and the keeper of a state's collective mood. Kalen DeBoer has the job. Now, he just has to keep winning.