Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

When coach Jeff Allen was introduced at a speaking engagement one time, he found out something he never knew.

The person introducing him said he had three kids.

“I said, ‘Hold on, I got one. And I do not have three for sure,’” said the Alabama senior associate athletic director in charge of health and performance. “I went ahead and texted my wife and said, ‘were you aware that we had two other kids out there?’ We didn’t know about them.”

Allen shared with the Dallas Wilcox Bama Club numerous stories about his long tenure at Alabama that began when he was hired by legendary coach Nick Saban. Back in 2007 not long after Saban came to Tuscaloosa, the new Alabama coach called Allen in for an interview. He said he didn’t want to tell his dad, who was a big Tennessee fan, that he was headed to rival Alabama.

“I said, ‘I’m going to Alabama.’ And again, a little bit of silence,” Allen said. “He’s a man that’s converted now. He’s come on full throttle for the Crimson Tide. It has just been a huge blessing in our lives, my life, my wife’s life and my daughter’s life, for us to have been at Alabama.”

Coming to Alabama

When he arrived at Alabama for an interview, he was supposed to be flying out that night to return to Orlando. As he was leaving, he was told that they were pushing back his flight because Saban wanted to offer the job “right now.” Allen asked if he could call his wife, they said he could, “but you’d better hurry before he changes his mind.”

When he got on the phone, Allen told his wife that he was being offered the job. He asked if she would move to Tuscaloosa.

“And she goes, ‘Do I have a choice?’” Allen said. “To which I said, ‘I don’t know if either one of us has a choice right now.’ So we did. We’re so glad that we did and so blessed that we did.”

After 18 seasons, Allen is proud to be a part of the Alabama tradition. Many places like to talk about tradition, but Allen said few ever deliver on that. Alabama does because of legendary coaches like Paul “Bear” Bryant and Saban. To have worked with Saban, Allen said it means the world to him.

“I love him dearly. And I still get to see him a lot because he’s got an office in the stadium. So when he’s in town, he’s over there, in the fall. He preps for his game day appearances just like he would be if we were getting ready to play a game. He loves what he’s doing. I know we all miss him. I certainly miss him, but he is as happy as he can possibly be, probably like a lot of you in this room that are retired.”

Weatherman Jeff

In addition to being in charge of player development, Saban also gave Allen the responsibility of being his weatherman. Allen was tasked with getting the forecasts for practice and game day. Saban never wanted to be surprised by the weather, which Allen said is difficult due to the nature of weather in the state.

“I don’t know how I got that job, but he would always ask what’s the weather today for practice,” Allen said. “So I tell him, you know, I’m no James Spann. I didn’t get it right. But one time I got it dreadfully wrong.”

A storm approached the practice facility, forcing them to practice inside. It appeared like the weather was clearing up and the storm moved away. Lightning detection gave them the all clear. So they decide to go outside.

“I mean, it was dang near clear skies,” Allen said. “As I walked with him as we went out of the indoor facility there onto the field. And I swear to God, a lightning bolt hit from me to that thing. God’s got a sense of humor. Right? Coach Saban turned to me, and he goes, ‘I just hope you’re a better trainer than you are weatherman.’”

Working with DeBoer

Allen said he is blessed to be working with coach Kalen DeBoer now, who is doing the unenviable task of following “the greatest coach of all time.” One thing that shows DeBoer’s progress was the fact that no player entered the portal following spring practice.

Allen thinks that is due to a principle that DeBoer preaches.

“(Coach DeBoer) preaches to them about let us develop you, let this place develop you, let this place develop you,” Allen said. “He has a saying, let Alabama do what Alabama does. And I think that’s a really really good way to put it.”