DeBoer's Alabama staff to retain Tide coaches, add Washington ties, per report
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DeBoer’s Alabama staff to retain Tide coaches, add Washington ties, per report

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After saying on Saturday he wanted his inaugural staff with Alabama football to come together quickly, a report shows Kalen DeBoer may be close to finalizing his lieutenants in Tuscaloosa.

DeBoer, who came over from Washington on Friday in a 49-hour coaching search, is expected to bring over his longtime offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard and director of scouting Jerret McElwain.

At least two holdovers from Nick Saban’s 2023 staff are also expected to stay for the regime: Freddie Roach (defensive line) and Robert Gillespie (running backs). The report comes on Sunday afternoon from ESPN’s Chris Low.

“I understand there needs to be some SEC ties, some southeast ties that can help bridge the gap of maybe my experiences here. There are experiences, having been West Coast and Indiana and some of the recruiting. But it’s not, I don’t want to lead you on that there’s not every coach’s phone number in my phone right now. Just gotta put myself where the right people are around me,” DeBoer said yesterday.

Shepard spent 2022 as the Huskies’ wide receiver roach, he was previously at Purdue. Jerret McLewain is a UA alum and son of longtime coach Jim McElwain. In 2015, Jerret was a recruiting specialist while a sophomore under Saban.

Roach, an Alabama native from Brook Hiigh School who graduated from UA in 2008, joined Alabama in 2020. Gillespie, who has extensive SEC experience, arrived in 2021.

“(DeBoer has) had a successful staff that he’s worked with and I want to be very respectful of that,” UA athletic Greg Byrne said when reminding reporters he’s stressed to new coaches they need someone on staff who understands “sweet tea and grits.”

Late last night, Grubb confirmed on social media that despite wanting to take over for DeBoer in Seattle, he would be leaving Washington. Former Washington assistant Courtney Morgan is already trying to help DeBoer retain UA players.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].