“We Accepted Coach DeBoer Coming In”: Former Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell Talks About Alabama Culture and Trusting New Staff
Alabama football, under the leadership of Nick Saban, has long been the benchmark of excellence in college football. Its success is not just measured by the number of championships, but by the culture of discipline, preparation, and trust that permeates every level of the program. It is this culture that has made Alabama the gold standard of college football. But what happens when new faces arrive, especially on the coaching staff? How does a team as established as Alabama continue to maintain its winning culture while adapting to new influences?
For Jihaad Campbell, a former linebacker for Alabama, this question became a reality with the arrival of a new coaching staff under offensive coordinator Kevin DeBoer. DeBoer, known for his dynamic offensive mind and leadership, was brought in to rejuvenate the Alabama offense. As a player who had already experienced the Saban-led machine, Campbell’s insight into how the team navigated the arrival of new staff members offers valuable perspective on the culture of Alabama football.
The Alabama Culture: A Legacy of Excellence
Alabama football, under the tutelage of Nick Saban, has been synonymous with a winning culture. Saban, widely regarded as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, has built a program that thrives on discipline, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. For players, this means a rigorous work ethic and an expectation of consistent, high-level performance. The team’s success is a direct result of this culture, which has shaped Alabama’s dominance over the years.
The culture at Alabama is a combination of intense preparation, competitive fire, and mental toughness. Players are expected to adhere to the highest standards, not only on the field but also in their personal lives. The famous “process” that Saban preaches to his players is all about controlling the things that are within their power—effort, attitude, and focus. For Alabama players, it’s about commitment to the program, pushing through adversity, and consistently performing at the highest level.
When new coaches are introduced into the mix, especially at a place like Alabama, it can be challenging. The introduction of new leadership and fresh ideas must be integrated into an already established system, and it requires buy-in from both the players and the staff. This is where Campbell’s experience becomes important. For him and his teammates, trusting the new staff and accepting their leadership was essential to maintaining the Alabama standard.
Transitioning to a New Offensive System
In the world of college football, transitions are inevitable, even at powerhouse programs like Alabama. The arrival of Kevin DeBoer as the new offensive coordinator was one such transition. DeBoer, who had previously shown his prowess in offensive roles at various programs, was tasked with reshaping the Alabama offense, making it more explosive while still maintaining the balance and power football for which the program is known.
For a team that had been running a certain style of offense under former coordinators, this shift required players to adjust. The offense had been traditionally power-based, with a strong focus on the run game and a controlled passing attack. But DeBoer’s arrival signaled a move toward a more diversified approach, which included utilizing a faster tempo and a more spread-out attack.
For a player like Jihaad Campbell, the question of how to respond to this new system was an important one. As a linebacker, Campbell’s role was to disrupt the opposing offense, and he knew that Alabama’s offense needed to be formidable if the team was going to maintain its spot atop the college football world.
“It was an adjustment for sure,” Campbell reflects. “But when you’re at Alabama, you learn to trust the process. You understand that no matter who’s in charge, you have to give it your all. We had to accept the changes Coach DeBoer brought in, even though it was a shift from what we were used to.”
Trusting in the new system wasn’t just about buying into the offensive strategy; it was about trusting the new staff members who were implementing those changes. For Campbell and his teammates, this meant showing up every day with an open mind and a commitment to improving. They had to believe that, even with a change in leadership, the goal remained the same: to win national championships.
Embracing Change: Campbell’s Perspective
One of the biggest challenges players face when a new coach comes on board is the uncertainty surrounding what will happen to the team’s dynamic. Under Nick Saban, Alabama’s football culture is entrenched, but every new addition or departure inevitably causes ripples in that system. Despite these challenges, Campbell saw the arrival of Coach DeBoer and the changes to the offense as opportunities for growth.
“It wasn’t easy at first,” Campbell admits. “When you’ve been running a certain system for years, it’s tough to change. But we understood that if we wanted to be the best, we had to trust the new coaching staff and embrace what they were bringing. It’s about the bigger picture, and we all knew Coach DeBoer was a big part of that.”
Campbell also points out that at Alabama, the focus has always been on adapting to change in order to improve, rather than resisting it. The ability to adjust and keep evolving is a hallmark of the Alabama program under Saban’s leadership. Every year, despite the turnover in both players and coaches, the program manages to reload, adapt, and maintain a high level of play.
“The mentality at Alabama is always to keep moving forward, no matter who’s on staff,” Campbell says. “It’s the same with every new player that comes in. If you want to play for Alabama, you have to fit into the culture. It’s about doing what’s best for the team, no matter what role you’re asked to play.”
Building Trust with New Staff Members
One of the core tenets of Alabama’s culture is the trust that players have in their coaching staff. It’s a trust that has been built over years of hard work, consistent success, and a shared commitment to excellence. But what happens when there’s a new face in the coaching staff? How do players, especially those who have been at Alabama for a while, adjust to new leadership?
For Campbell and many other Alabama players, the answer lies in their unwavering commitment to the program. Trusting the new coaches is a natural extension of the trust they already have in the Alabama football process. Despite the shift in leadership, the core values of hard work, discipline, and perseverance remain unchanged.
“We had a lot of respect for Coach DeBoer right away,” Campbell says. “He came in with a vision for the offense, and we could see that he was committed to winning just like Coach Saban. Once we saw that, it was easy to buy in.”
It wasn’t just about the X’s and O’s, either. DeBoer’s ability to connect with the players on a personal level helped foster a sense of unity within the team. By demonstrating his commitment to the players’ development both on and off the field, DeBoer helped build the trust necessary for the offense to thrive.
“We accepted Coach DeBoer because we could see that he was a coach who genuinely cared about us as players,” Campbell notes. “He wasn’t just focused on X’s and O’s. He wanted to make sure we were mentally and physically prepared for every challenge. That kind of dedication earns trust.”
Looking Ahead: Alabama’s Future Under DeBoer
As the Alabama football program moves forward with Coach DeBoer in place, the offense has already shown signs of becoming more dynamic and adaptable. With DeBoer’s leadership and the continued commitment of players like Campbell, the program looks primed to maintain its status as one of the top teams in college football.
For Jihaad Campbell, the trust he placed in the new coaching staff was a reflection of the larger Alabama culture. It’s a culture built on adapting to challenges, pushing through adversity, and trusting in the process—no matter what changes might come. As Alabama continues to chase greatness, it will be players like Campbell, who have learned to embrace change while holding firm to the core values of the program, who help lead the way.
As Campbell’s career at Alabama may have come to a close, his reflection on the team’s culture and the way the new staff was integrated into the program offers a glimpse into the heart of what makes Alabama football so successful: the ability to evolve, adapt, and, most importantly, trust the people who are steering the ship.