The Alabama Crimson Tide has been a part of the college football scene since 1892.
Over the years, fans in Tuscaloosa have had various eras under different coaches who led the program to glory and success. There have been 28 coaches for Alabama, including the most recent hiring of Kalen DeBoer, who replaced the retired Nick Saban.
Many Alabama fans know the way Saban changed the fortunes of the program during his 17-year stint. On that note, let’s take a look at the football coaching history of the Crimson Tide, right from its inception in 1892, along with the coaches who went on to win national titles.
E.B. Beaumont (1892)
The first-ever coach of the Crimson Tide football during their inaugural season was E.B Beaumont.
He was a University of Pennsylvania alumnus who spent one season in Tuscaloosa before being fired. His knowledge of the game of football was limited, which is why he was fired, according to the University of Alabama’s Yearbook.
Beaumont expired on Oct. 20, 1934.
Eli Abbott (1893-95, 1902)
Beaumont was replaced by Abbott in 1893. He attended the University of Alabama and played tackle during their inaugural season in 1892.
Abbott served as the Crimson Tide from 1893 to 1895. He also served for one more season in 1902 and compiled an overall 7-13 record. He expired on Feb. 13, 1943.
A succession of coaches took over the position over the ensuing years, although they accomplished nothing noteworthy. The following is a list of the Crimson Tide’s coaches from 1896 to 1922, when Wallace Wade took over and guided the team to its first National Championship in 1925.
Wade was the Crimson Tide’s first coach and guided the team to victory and national acclaim.
Wade was recruited as the coach in Tuscaloosa in 1923, having previously worked as an assistant for Vanderbilt. He was a member of the Southern Conference for seven years, during which he won three national titles with the Crimson Tide.
