Saban, Nick (1951-…), was one of the most successful coaches in college football history. Saban became the first head coach to win national championships at two different schools. He won more national championships (7) than any other coach in college football history. Saban won championships at Louisiana State University in 2003 and at the University of Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020. His 2009 and 2020 teams went undefeated.
Nicholas Lou Saban was born on Oct. 31, 1951, in Fairmont, West Virginia. He played football at Kent State University from 1970 through 1972. He graduated in 1973. He then held a series of assistant coaching jobs. His first job was at Kent State University (1973-1976). He then worked as assistant coach at Syracuse University (1977), West Virginia University (1978-1979), Ohio State University (1980-1981), the United States Naval Academy (1983), and Michigan State University (1983-1987). Saban then left college football for professional football, joining the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) of the National Football League (NFL) as an assistant coach. He held that position with the Oilers in 1988 and 1989. He was head coach at the University of Toledo in 1990 before returning to the NFL as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns (1991-1994).
Saban was head coach at Michigan State University from 1995 through 1999. He then served as head coach at Louisiana State University from 2000 through 2004. Saban moved back to the NFL as head coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006 before becoming head coach at the University of Alabama in 2007. Saban coached at Alabama for 17 seasons before retiring in 2024.
