Nick Saban Net Worth

Nick Saban’s coaching career in American football spans over four decades. His career began as an assistant coach in 1977. He is currently the head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in the NCAA Division I (D-I), where he has been head coach since 2007. Four of his Alabama players received the prestigious Heisman Trophy—before his arrival, no Alabama players had ever been given the Heisman Trophy.  

Many professionals believe that Nick Saban is the greatest coach in college football of all time. Under Nick Saban’s leadership, he led his teams to win 7 national championships, 10 SEC (The Southeastern Conference) championships, and 14 SEC Western Division championships. There’s no other coach had dominated college football in the modern era like Nick Saban.

Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including being named the 2008’s Most Powerful Coach in Sports by Forbes magazine. In 2021, Saban signed an eight-year contract with the Alabama Crimson Tide for $73.8 million.

What is Nick Saban’s Net Worth?

While Nick Saban was the head coach at the Michigan State Spartans, he made $700,000 a year; at the Louisiana State University Tigers, Saban reportedly made $1.2 million. When Saban signed a five-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, they agreed to pay him $5 million yearly.

When Nick Saban signed an eight-year contract with the Alabama Crimson Tide for $32 million, he made on average $5 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid football coaches. As of writing, in August 2022, Nick Saban’s net worth is around $60 million.

Before the start of the 2021 season, Saban signed a contract extension with the Alabama Crimson until 2028—the deal is worth $84.4 million. When season-completion bonuses and other incentives are included, this works out to be about $10.6 million a year that Saban is taking home. For a college football head coach, Nick Saban’s earnings are on par with other major sports in the top league, such as the NBA and NFL.

Who is Nick Saban?

Nick Saban’s official name is Nicholas Lou Saban Jr., born on October 31, 1951, in Fairmont, West Virginia. The son of Mary and Nick Lou Saban, Sr., and the brother of Diana Thompson. The Saban family is of Croatian descent. His father owned a gas station and Dairy Queen and was also the coach of the local Pop Warner Youth League football team, the Ida Mac Black Diamonds.

They live in Marion Country, in a small community of Monongah, West Virginia. Both Saban and his sister graduated from Monongah High School. While in high school, he played quarterback, Saban led his team to a 20-12 win in the 1968’s West Virginia state championship.

While still in college, he got married to Terry Constable. In 1973, Nick Saban earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Kent State University; two years later, Saban received a master’s degree in sports administration from Kent State. His father, Nicholas Lou Saban Jr., passed away during his first year of graduate school. From 1970 to 1972, Saban played defensive back for Kent State under the head coach Don James.

Early Coaching Career

Initially, Nick Saban had no intention of pursuing a professional football coaching career. While waiting for his wife to graduate, Kent State head coach Don James hired him to work as a graduate assistant. For the next decade, from 1977 to 1987, Saban worked as an assistant coach for several universities and government organizations such as Ohio State, West Virginia, and the Navy in NCAA Division.

In 1977, after a vacant head coaching position at Kent State was passed over to another preferred candidate, Saban was hired as an assistant for the Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL).

Journey as Head Coach

In 1989, Saban was hired as the head coach by the University of Toledo. Before the 1990 season, Toledo performed poorly, but under Saban’s direction, the 1990 season became more positive and found great success. The Toledo Rockets became the co-champions of the 1990 Mid-American Conference. However, Saban left the Rockets after one season as he desired to become a defensive coordinator. Hence, he joined the Cleveland Browns of the NFL under head coach Bill Belichick —Saban stayed for four seasons until 1994. He later said he really disliked his time there. After his unenjoyable experience, Saban moved back to NCAA Division I-A.

In 1995, he became the head coach of Michigan State. The Spartans had not had a winning season since 1990. In 1995, under the direction of Saban, the team greatly improved; Saban led the Spartans to bowl games in each of these three seasons. In the 1998 season, the Spartans surprised the number one ranked Ohio Buckeyes, winning on their home soil 28-24. In 1999, his final season with the Spartans was the most successful, he led the team to many victories—the most wins the Spartans achieved since 1965.

When Nick Saban served as the head coach at the LSU Tigers in 2000, the Tigers won Peach Bowl in his first season. The 2001 season was the most remarkable year for the Tigers–winning the 2001 SEC Championship since 1986 and Sugar Bow since 1968. In 2003, the Tigers won the SEC West Division title, Saban. The greatest feat was Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003.

In 2005, Saban returned to NFL and took the job as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins narrowly missed the playoffs in Saban’s first season. His last season in 2006 wasn’t any better; the Tiger performed poorly and lost the season.

 When the University of Alabama Crimson Tide offered Saban the position as the head coach, he welcomed the opportunity. He signed an eight-year contract worth $32 million—making him one of the highest-paid coaches at that time in both professional and collegiate football.

Since becoming the head coach, Saban has led the Crime Tides to 15 bowl game victories, 9 SEC West Division titles, 8 SEC championships, and 6 national championships—making him the most accomplished college coach of all time.

In 2008, he was named by Forbes magazine as The Most Powerful Coach in Sports. In 2009, Saban received several Coach of the Year awards. To honor Nick Saban’s incredible accomplishment for the school, the University of Alabama built a life-sized bronze statue of him, unveiled in 2011.

In 2021, his unbelievable success with the Crimson Tide, his contract was eagerly extended up until 2028 for an eight-year deal of $73.8 million.

Personal Life

 Nick Saban and his wife Terry have been together for over 50 years, they had been married since 1971. They have a son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Kristen—both adopted.

Saban and his wife are both devout Catholics and make it their priority to attend Mass.  He used to be a chaplain for a football team. They’re also co-founders of Nick’s Kid foundation supporting children in need, with over $1 million had been donated so far.

Real Estate

In 2007, Saban and his wife bought a property in Tuscaloosa for $2.9. In 2013, they sold the property to the Crimson Tide Foundation for $3.1. As part of the agreement with the university, they were allowed to live in the house even after it was sold.

In 2013, Saban sold one of his lakehouses in Lake Burton in Tuscaloosa County for $10.95 million. He’s also part-owner of the local exclusive golf club in that area.  

Interesting Facts about Nick Saban

·         Saban and his current wife have known each other since primary school. They only began to date when they met each other in college and got married before they both graduated.

·         In 2013, Saban was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

·         113 of his players got drafted into the NFL

·         Outside of football, Saban still keeps in touch with his players

·         The New England Patriot head coach Bill Belichick and Nick Saban are good friends

·         He co-authored two books about this time as a football coach and how to succeed in football

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