Nick Saban is a former American football coach who is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He led his teams to a record-setting seven national championships and is the only coach in history to win a national title with two different schools. He is also known for his remarkable recruiting and defensive skills, as well as his strict discipline and high standards.
Nick Saban Wiki/Bio, Ethnicity
| Name | Nick Saban |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. |
| Date of birth | October 31, 1951 |
| Place of birth | Fairmont, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Croatian-American |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Spouse | Terry Constable (m. 1971) |
| Children | Nicholas and Kristen (adopted) |
| Education | Kent State University (B.S., M.S.) |
| Occupation | Former American football coach |
| Career record | 292–71–1 (college) [n 1] 15–17 (NFL) |
| Championships | 7 National (2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020) 11 SEC (2001, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2014–2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023) 1 MAC (1990) 12 SEC Western Division (2001, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014-2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023) |
| Hall of fame | Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (2013) Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2014) West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2015) College Football Hall of Fame (2019) |
| Links | Instagram- @nick.saban_ Wikipedia- @Nick_Saban Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Nick Saban was born Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. on October 31, 1951 (age: 72 years, as of 2023), in Fairmont, West Virginia. He grew up in a small town in West Virginia and attended Monongah High School. Saban played football in high school and college, and was an all-conference defensive back at Kent State University. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in business administration and planned to pursue a career in automotive sales. However, his former coach, Don James, offered him a job as a graduate assistant at Kent State, which sparked his interest in coaching.
Coaching Career
Nick Saban worked his way up the coaching ladder through various collegiate and professional assistant roles before landing his first head-coaching job with the University of Toledo in 1990. He spent just one season there, leading the Rockets to a 9-2 record and a Mid-American Conference title. He then moved on to become the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) under head coach Bill Belichick from 1991 to 1994.
Saban returned to the college game in 1995 as the head coach at Michigan State University, where he rebuilt the team over the course of five seasons. He led the Spartans to four bowl games and a 9-2 record in 1999, his final season there. He then accepted the head-coaching position at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2000, where he had even more success. He guided the Tigers to five bowl appearances, two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, and a BCS national championship in 2003, defeating the University of Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. He became the first coach in LSU history to win a national title since 1958.
After spending one more year at LSU, he returned to the professional ranks as the head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2005. However, he did not enjoy the same level of success as he did in college, as the team had two mediocre seasons, marked by numerous personality clashes between Saban and his players. He also faced criticism for denying his interest in the vacant head-coaching job at the University of Alabama, which he eventually accepted in 2007.
He quickly rebuilt Alabama into a powerhouse with his sharp recruiting and defensive-strategy acumen. He led the Crimson Tide to six SEC titles, 14 bowl games, and six national championships in his 17 seasons there. He won his first national title with Alabama in 2009, defeating the University of Texas in the BCS title game. He then repeated the feat in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020, beating LSU, Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State, respectively, in the College Football Playoff (CFP) era. He became the first coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different schools since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. He also surpassed Bear Bryant as the coach with the most national titles in the poll era.
Nick Saban retired from coaching after the 2023 season, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and dominance. He finished his career with a record of 292-71-1 as a college head coach and 15-17 as an NFL head coach. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024. He coached four Heisman Trophy winners at Alabama: Mark Ingram II (2009), Derrick Henry (2015), DeVonta Smith (2020), and Bryce Young (2021).
Who will succeed Nick Saban at Alabama? Experts weigh in on potential candidates
The college football world was stunned by the news that Nick Saban, the legendary coach who led Alabama to six national championships, announced his retirement on Wednesday. Saban, 72, had been at the helm of the Crimson Tide for 17 seasons, establishing a dynasty that dominated the sport for more than a decade. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence, discipline, and innovation that will be hard to match by anyone.
But who will be the next coach to take over the most prestigious job in college football? That is the question that many fans, analysts, and insiders are asking, as Alabama begins its search for Saban’s successor. CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee and Charles Davis joined Chris Williamson to discuss the best replacement for Saban at Alabama, and they offered their opinions on some of the potential candidates.
Sallee suggested that Oregon’s Dan Lanning, who has been a rising star in the coaching ranks, could be a good fit for the Crimson Tide. Lanning, 37, has led the Ducks to two Pac-12 titles and a Rose Bowl victory in his two seasons as the head coach. He was previously the defensive coordinator at Georgia, where he worked under Kirby Smart, a former Saban assistant. Sallee said that Lanning has the defensive acumen, the recruiting prowess, and the charisma to succeed at Alabama.
Davis agreed that Lanning is a strong candidate, but he also mentioned another name that could be intriguing for the Crimson Tide: Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. Swinney, 54, is a former Alabama player and assistant coach, who has built his own dynasty at Clemson, winning two national championships and six ACC titles. He has been one of the few coaches who has been able to challenge Saban on the field and on the recruiting trail. Davis said that Swinney has the experience, the pedigree, and the connection to Alabama that could make him a viable option.
However, both Sallee and Davis acknowledged that Swinney may not be interested in leaving Clemson, where he has established a strong culture and a loyal fan base. They also pointed out that Swinney may not be well-received by some Alabama fans, who have grown to dislike him for his success at Clemson and his outspoken personality. They said that Swinney may face unrealistic expectations and unfair comparisons to Saban if he returns to his alma mater.
Other names that have been mentioned as possible candidates for the Alabama job include Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, Florida State’s Mike Norvell, and Alabama’s offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. However, none of them seem to have the same level of appeal or credentials as Lanning or Swinney. Whoever gets the job, they will have a tough task of following Saban’s footsteps and maintaining Alabama’s status as a powerhouse in college football.
Personal Life and Family
Nick Saban married Terry Constable in 1971, whom he met while attending Kent State. They have two adopted children, Nicholas Saban and Kristen Saban. He is a devout Catholic and attends Mass regularly. He is also an avid golfer and a fan of classic rock music.
Saban is of Croatian descent and his grandparents immigrated to the United States from the former Yugoslavia. His father, Nick Lou Saban Sr., was a coal miner and a gas station owner who taught him the values of hard work and discipline. His mother, Mary, was a homemaker who supported his education and athletic pursuits. He has a sister, Dianna, who is a retired teacher and a cancer survivor.
He is known for his philanthropic efforts and his involvement in various causes. He and his wife founded the Nick’s Kids Foundation in 1998, which supports children’s charities and organizations in Alabama and Louisiana. He also supports the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Children’s Miracle Network, and the United Way.
Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
- Weight: 160 lb (73 kg)
- Eye color: Brown
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: White
- Hair color: Light brown
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $60 million |
| 2020 | $60 million |
| 2021 | $70 million |
Nick Saban is a former American football coach who is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He led his teams to a record-setting seven national championships and is the only coach in history to win a national title with two different schools. He is also known for his remarkable recruiting and defensive skills, as well as his strict discipline and high standards.
