Nick Saban

Not to be confused with Nick Sagan.

Nick Saban
Saban at the White House in April 2018
Biographical details
Born (1951-10-31) October 31, 1951 (age 73)
Fairmont, West Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1970–1972Kent State
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1973–1974Kent State (GA)
1975–1976Kent State (LB)
1977Syracuse (OLB)
1978–1979West Virginia (DB)
1980–1981Ohio State (DB)
1982Navy (DB)
1983–1987Michigan State (DC/DB)
1988–1989Houston Oilers (DB)
1990Toledo
1991–1994Cleveland Browns (DC)
1995–1999Michigan State
2000–2004LSU
2005–2006Miami Dolphins
2007–2023Alabama
Head coaching record
Overall292–71–1 (college)[n 1]
15–17 (NFL)
Bowls19–12
Tournaments9–5 (CFP)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. (/ˈseɪbən/ SAY-bən; born October 31, 1951)[14] is an American sportscaster and former professional and college football coach. He serves as an analyst for ESPN's College GameDay, a television program covering college football. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest football coaches of all time.[15][16] Saban served as head coach of the National Football League (NFL)'s Miami Dolphins and at four universities: Louisiana State University (LSU), Michigan State University, the University of Toledo and most famously the University of Alabama, where he last coached from 2007 to 2023 and led the team to six national championships in nine championship appearances during that period.

As a college football head coach, Saban won seven national titles, the most in college football history.[17] His first came when he led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003. He then coached the Alabama Crimson Tide to BCS and AP national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, and to College Football Playoff championships in 2015, 2017 and 2020. He became the first coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936.[18] Saban and Bear Bryant are the only coaches to win an SEC championship at two different schools.[19] Saban's career record as a college head coach is 292–71–1.[n 1]

In 2013, Saban was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.[20] Saban coached four Heisman Trophy winners at Alabama: Mark Ingram II (2009), Derrick Henry (2015), DeVonta Smith (2020), and Bryce Young (2021).[21]

  1. ^ "2007 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Alabama's penalty from '09 ruling stands". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 23, 2010. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "The George Munger Award". Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Enoch, Ed (December 30, 2014). "Alabama head coach Nick Saban named Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year". The Tuscaloosa News. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "AP Coach of the Year Award Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "Home Depot Coach of the Year Award Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "Saban Sporting News National Coach of the Year". University of Alabama Athletics. December 17, 2008. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  11. ^ Walsh, Christopher (December 31, 2008). "Saban named Liberty Mutual Coach of Year". The Tuscaloosa News. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Breland, Tony (March 4, 2013). "Nick Saban, Bobby Bowden Share the Stage for Coach of the Year Award". Bama Hammer. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "SEC Coach of the Year Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  14. ^ Schexnayder, C. J. (April 26, 2013). "Nick Saban". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  15. ^ Dodd, Dennis (January 5, 2018). "The debate is truly over: Why Nick Saban is the greatest coach of all time". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (January 9, 2018). "Nick Saban is the top college football coach of all time". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  17. ^ Staats, Wayne (January 12, 2021). "College football coaches with the most national championships". NCAA.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  18. ^ Maisel, Ivan (December 6, 2009). "Saban, Tide good for each other". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  19. ^ Kausler Jr., Don (December 12, 2012). "'The Process' will result in Nick Saban's 2013 induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame". AL.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Nick Saban". Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. July 23, 2019. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Heisman Memorial Trophy Winners". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2022.


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