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Kalen DeBoer explains why he kept Freddie Roach and Robert Gillespie on the Alabama staff
By Keith Farner
Published:
Kalen DeBoer called it an easy decision when he was asked about retaining Freddie Roach and Robert Gillespie on his first staff at Alabama.
“These guys are amazing,” DeBoer said during an appearance Wednesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. “First of all, you listen to what the people around the program have to say, in regards to their relationships with the players, how strong their position groups were, who they are as people, as well as what their impact has been in recruiting, and man, these guys have been amazing.”
Gillespie is still the running backs coach, and Roach is still the defensive line coach, but added the title of assistant head coach.
DeBoer also noted how Roach and Gillespie worked in the program before he was hired to keep the team together.
“Then once I got here, locking arms with them and trusting them, just like I asked the guys to be all in on me, I was all in on them, and they’ve been that way as well,” DeBoer said. “They’ve allowed us to hit the ground running here these last 2 weeks on the recruiting trail. I can see we made some really good decisions on keeping them here.”
Gillespie has been with the Crimson Tide since 2021. Roach, a former Alabama player, is in his third stint on Alabama’s staff. He was a strength and conditioning assistant in 2008-10, the director of player development from 2015-17, and as the defensive line coach since 2020.
Kalen DeBoer on keeping Freddie Roach and Robert Gillespie on the coaching staff: @abc3340
“I asked the guys to be all in on me and I was all in one them.” pic.twitter.com/sWFQ3MfQGn
— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) January 31, 2024
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
