Nick Saban Biography

Nick Saban or Nicholas Lou Saban Jr was born on 31st October 1951 in Fairmont, West Virginia to Mary and Nick Lou Saban. His father was the owner of a Gulf gas station and Dairy Queen and was also the coach of the local Pop Warner Youth League football team, the Ida Mac Black Diamonds. He has a sister too, whose name is Dianna.

For his education, he went to the Monongah High School and thereafter joined Kent State University from where he obtained his bachelor's degree in business in 1973. Later, he completed his Masters in sports administration from Kent State in 1975

While at the university, he played defensive back for Kent State Golden Flashes football team (1970-72) under coach Don James.

Nick Saban was initially interested in a career in automotive sales; however, post his graduation in 1973, he was hired by Kent State head coach, Don James to work as a graduate assistant.

Between 1977 and 1987, he worked as assistant coach at Syracuse, West Virginia, Ohio State, Navy and Michigan State in NCAA Division I-A.

In 1988, he got his first NFL coaching position when he was hired as the secondary coach with the Houston Oilers. He worked there for two seasons under Jerry Glanville.

His first job as the head coach came when he was hired by the University of Toledo in 1989. The Rockets finished the season with a 9-2 campaign and also became the co-champions of the 1990 Mid-American Conference.

In 1991, he left Toledo to join Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) as the defensive coordinator under head coach Bill Belichick. He continued there for four seasons till 1994.

Saban then returned to college rank and accepted the position of the head coach of the Michigan State University. Between 1995 and 1999, he worked to build the team that had not had a winning season since 1990. His final season with the Spartans was the most successful one wherein he led them to a 9–2 record which included victories over Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

Between 2000 and 2004, Nick Saban served as the head coach of the LSU Tigers. In the five successful seasons he spent there, his achievements included leading the Tigers to a 48-16 record and victories in two SEC championships and the 2003 BCS National Championship Game.

In 2002, he co-authored, with Sam King, a book tilted Tiger Turnaround: LSU's Return to Football Glory. The book was an inside story that documented his first two years at LSU and how he took the Tigers back to the top of the Southeastern Conference.

After the BCS national championship win, together with Brian Curtis, he authored another book titled How Good Do You Want to Be? A Champion's Tips on How to Lead and Succeed at Work and in Life. The 2005 book offered real-life principles for success in professional and personal life.

After coaching LSU Tigers, in 2005, he returned to professional rank and took up the job as the head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. After two not so successful seasons, he decided to take up the offer to join as Alabama's 27th head coach.

At the time he joined in 2007, his remuneration for a period of 8 years made him one of the highest paid football coaches (professional or collegiate) in the US.

Since taking over as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Saban has led the team to 21 bowl game appearances with 15 wins, 9 SEC West titles, 8 SEC championships and 6 national championships.

His sixth national championship win with Alabama was also the seventh of his career making him break Paul Bear Bryant's previous record of six championship wins in the top division.

A number of players, since Saban took charge, have been recognised for their on-field talent and achievements with Mark Ingram Jr., Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young even bagging the Heisman Trophy. Earlier, no Alabama player had ever won the Heisman Trophy.

Additionally, 71 players have been awarded the annual honour of First Team All-Americans and 113 former players of his team have been drafted into the National Football League.

His success with the Crimson Tide has led to his contract as Alabama’s head coach been extended up until 2028.

Coaching aside, he also made a special appearance as himself in John Lee Hancock directed 2009 film The Blind Side.

Nick Saban has received the Paul Bear Bryant Award twice, first in 2003 and then in 2020.

Apart from this he has also twice been the recipient of Walter Camp Coach of the Year (2008, 2018) award, AP College Football Coach of the Year (2003, 2008) award and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2003, 2008) award.

He has been honoured with the SEC Coach of the Year award five times (2003, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2020).

Additionally, he has bagged more awards like the Home Depot Coach of the Year, Sporting News Coach of the Year (both 2008), Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (2014) and George Munger Award (2016).

In the year 2013, he was inducted into Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Earlier, in 2011, his nine feet tall bronze statue joined those of Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Paul W. Bear Bryant and Gene Stallings in the Walk of Champions Plaza outside the Bryant–Denny Stadium. According to school tradition, coaches who have led Crimson Tide to a football national championship victory get featured in the plaza.

Nick Saban and his wife Terry have been married since 1971 and have two children, Nicholas and Kristen. Their daughter-in-law is Kelsé and son-in-law is Adam Setas while the names of their grandchildren are Amélie and James.

The Sabans are the co-founders of the Nick's Kids Foundation that backs the needs of the disadvantaged children.

He was the subject of the Trey Reynolds directed authorised biographical film Nick Saban: Gamechanger which came out in 2010.