For every Saturday spotlight, there’s a private sacrifice made by a coach’s family. But Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s wife, Nicole Tendler, talked about an unexpected blessing that came along with this position.

“You know, I feel like sometimes we’re almost desensitized to stadiums and meeting certain people, and so that’s why, you know, we’re very, very thankful for the position that we’re in,” said Nicole during her Monday appearance on Yea Alabama.

As the wife of Alabama’s head coach, she and her two daughters often have to do things that make most people nervous. Meeting with legends or icons or presenting on the biggest stage becomes a normal routine for them. Despite the unique access, she remains grounded, emphasizing that she doesn’t want to take their lives for granted.

Admitting this positive part of DeBoer’s head coaching journey, she doesn’t deny the flip side. With various coaching stops, changing places is one thing, but with growing fame, their simple life often becomes a headliner, often under the media spotlight. Surely, that follows criticism and support from fans. As someone who prefers a simple life, Nicole confesses that navigating the constant public attention isn’t easy.

“With the way the coaching path has, like, progressed or elevated. I guess we’ve kind of slowly taking more steps into the pressure, the limelight,” said Kalen DeBoer’s wife. “And we’re pretty simple people.”

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DeBoer’s challenge was immense, stepping in for a legend like Nick Saban, who spent 17 seasons there and built a dynasty with 6 national titles. So, the crucial factor was whether Kalen DeBoer would be able to fill those big shoes or not, and while his first season ended with a respectable 9-4 record, the pressure to elevate the program to its former CFP-contending glory remains.

Now, the jump is clearly visible, so expectations will rise and the pressure to match that, too. In this scenario, Nicole’s words suggest that if Bama wins, then support from fans could keep the family in the spotlight, but if not, then the situation could be worse, a reality that only a football family truly understands. Either way, fame comes with immense pressure, and whatever problems they’ve faced, Nicole’s support for the Alabama head coach never wavered.

Kalen DeBoer’s constant support system

Long before taking the weight of fulfilling a legendary legacy at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer found his lifelong partner in Nicole. In 2000, their story began in Sioux Falls when DeBoer was calling plays for the Cougars. By the following year, that certainty led them down the aisle, and on December 29, 2001, DeBoer and Nicole Tendler exchanged vows at Savior’s Lutheran Church, having been together since then.

Interestingly, her support has been less about the spotlight and more about the foundation. Surely, she has shown up at games and was even present at the Alabama CFP game, but her contribution is far bigger than this

More importantly, she often stepped in to support the Tide head coach when he faced criticism. DeBoer’s wife demonstrated this support last season after Alabama lost to FSU in the season opener. That support will continue to show itself in the upcoming season, as we wait to find out if it brings more success for the program compared to last season.