As the sports world ignited on Wednesday afternoon following Nick Saban’s retirement, phones erupted with notifications. Families shared news articles and debated their veracity. Opposing fans rejoiced that their 17-year nightmare was finally over. Industry insiders tried to piece together what just happened.

In Tuscaloosa, between a flurry of meetings, Alabama athletic director Byrne received a text from a colleague: Each day during a coaching search tends to feel like its own week. Byrne would later say he “wasn’t taken by surprise.”

In reality, Byrne’s preparation for this moment and the following jet-setting 49 hours — which ended in Kalen DeBoer being officially introduced Saturday afternoon — was in the works for nearly seven years.

“I only got asked 9,723 times (when I got the job) what it feels like to be the guy that’s gonna hire Nick Saban’s replacement,” Byrne reflected with reporters on Saturday. “That was the easiest question I had all day: ‘We’re gonna kick that can as far and as long as we possibly can.’ … I certainly felt that responsibility.”

Here’s how he learned that day had arrived and how he had Alabama ready for it.

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During the season, after Saban had started film review with coaches, he and Byrne would meet at roughly 3 p.m. each Sunday. They would discuss any pressing matters for the week, and Saban would offer pertinent team updates. Without revealing the exact date and time, Byrne said Saban was always “transparent” when addressing the future.

Saban shared with ESPN on Thursday that over the years it became harder to give assurances to those inside the building, as well as prospective coaches and prospects, that he would be around in three to five years. The 72-year-old coach would joke back with players, asking them if they were going to exhaust all collegiate eligibility before moving on to the NFL.

But non-answers only lasted so long and after a day of rumors and a back-and-forth decision, Saban walked into a team meeting to relay his choice. Meanwhile, Byrne got to work, finally moving past his initial task of assisting the end of Saban’s career.

Byrne met with the players and asked for a 72-hour window to find a new coach. He then spoke with UA leadership and had a key meeting with support staffers to break up the roster and get in touch with each player. Byrne then hit the road, returning to town yesterday afternoon, he said.

“You never want to say, ‘Oh, I guess I better start looking and putting things together today.’ As you can imagine over time, I was always preparing, hoping I’d never have to execute the plan,” When the time came, I felt like we had a good, solid plan,” Byrne said.

The son of former longtime administrator Bill Byrne, Greg Byrne said he learned from his dad to watch players interact with their coaches and read body language. He identified DeBoer, 49, on a long list of coaches to watch in 2020 when DeBoer was elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach. DeBoer’s stock rose as he then went 25-3 in two years in Washington.

DeBoer, who hired longtime Saban agent Jimmy Sexton this season and reportedly never signed an extension offer from Washington, was falling into a coaching spotlight at an ideal time, leading the Huskies to a College Football Playoff championship appearance.

Along with their wives, Regina Byrne and Nicole DeBoer, the pair met in a downtown Seattle hotel for the first time on Thursday. DeBoer was offered the job a day later, he said.

“I know this is happening fast and I just can’t say enough about the trust that you have in me and how much I appreciate that. It means so much. We had never met, and to do your due diligence and all of that and go through the process, I really appreciate it. I’m so excited to lock arms with you as I am the rest of the athletic department, all the head coaches here and to continue to build on the great tradition of Alabama athletics as a whole.”

Like he felt when he hired Dan Mullen at Mississippi State and when he appointed Nate Oats to run UA men’s basketball, Byrne found what he was looking for in DeBoer. Time will tell if he was right.

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