Nick Saban's Success: Coaching and Cash

Nick Saban’s Success: Coaching and Cash

By Monte Perez

Whenever I see a company advertise or put signs up that say employee shortage.

Two things come to mind:

The company has terrible management and leadership.
The Company does not pay its employees well.

No one leaves a company when they have a great boss, and they are paid what they feel they are worth.

This off-season, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, came out and said some negative things about Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

“Some people think they’re God,” Fisher said. “Go dig into how God did his deal. You may find out about a guy, a lot of things you don’t want to know. We build him up to be the czar of football. Go dig into his past.”

Saban is not a God, and I have interviewed several NFL players who did not like him when he coached the Miami Dolphins. But, one thing is not up for debate, he is the best coach and leader in the history of college football and it is not even close. Make no mistake about it, he also pays his staff what they are worth.

In 2003, Saban won a national championship as the head coach for the LSU Tigers. Since arriving at Alabama, he has won 6 National Championships and has a record of 178-25, including and SEC record of, 103-16.

Below is a list of coaches who once worked under Saban:

Kirby Smart (Alabama): Georgia HC
Jimbo Fisher (LSU): Texas A&M HC, Florida State HC (2010-17)
Jeremy Pruitt (Alabama): Tennessee HC (2018-20)
Will Muschamp (LSU): South Carolina HC (2016-20), Florida HC (2011-14)
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State): Michigan State HC (2007-19)
Derek Dooley (LSU): New York Giants TE, Tennessee HC (2010-12), Louisiana Tech HC (2007-09)
Jim McElwain (Alabama): Central Michigan HC, Florida HC (2015-17) Colorado State HC (2012-14)
Lane Kiffin (Alabama): Ole Miss HC, Florida Atlantic HC (2017-19)
Bobby Williams (Michigan State): Oregon ST, Michigan State HC (1999-2002)
Jason Garrett (Dolphins): Dallas Cowboys HC (2011-19)
Dan Quinn (Dolphins): Dallas Cowboys DC, Atlanta Falcons HC (2015-20)
Adam Gase (LSU): New York Jets HC (2019-20), Miami Dolphins HC (2016-18)
Pat Shurmur (Michigan State): Denver Broncos OC, New York Giants HC (2018-19)
Major Applewhite (Alabama): South Alabama OC, Houston HC (2016-18)
Mario Cristobal (Alabama): Miami (FL) HC, Oregon HC (2018-21)
Billy Napier (Alabama): Florida HC, Louisiana HC (2018-21)
Steve Sarkisian (Alabama): Texas HC

Every year coaches and players leave for head coaching jobs or the NFL. The one constant is Saban’s commitment to excellence. Alabama’s assistant coaches will make over $9 million dollars this season. That is more than most NFL coaching staffs make.

Alabama’s TE coach makes $325,000
Special teams coach makes $495,000
Cornerbacks coach makes $800,000.

Great coaching, recruiting and a ton of money is the key to Alabama’s success. As long as Saban is on the sidelines, The Crimson Tide will be a top 4 team and his assistants will be paid handsomely. There is no secret why he wins every year, elite coaching and cash.