Former Alabama coach Nick Saban joins ESPN, ‘Faculty GameDay’ as analyst

Nick Saban, who retired final month as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide after 17 seasons, is prepared to return to work.

Probably the most completed coaches in faculty soccer historical past with seven nationwide championships, Saban will likely be becoming a member of ESPN, it was introduced Wednesday.

Saban, 72, will primarily function an analyst on ESPN’s “Faculty GameDay” and in addition will lend his experience throughout ESPN’s platforms to a wide range of occasions, together with the NFL draft and SEC media days.

“ESPN and Faculty GameDay have performed such an essential function within the development of faculty soccer, and I am honored to have the chance to hitch their staff,” Saban stated in a press release. “I am going to do my greatest to supply further insights and views to contribute to Faculty GameDay, the last word Saturday custom for faculty soccer followers.”

Saban has appeared a number of occasions as a visitor on “Faculty GameDay” alongside new teammates Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee.

“Nick Saban is a singular, iconic presence in faculty soccer,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro stated in a press release. “He’s additionally an especially gifted communicator, who will instantly add much more credibility, authority and leisure worth to ESPN, together with our esteemed Faculty GameDay present.”

In his 17 campaigns with the Crimson Tide, Saban gained 201 video games — tied with Vince Dooley (Georgia) for the second-most wins at a single faculty in SEC historical past, behind solely Bear Bryant, who gained 232 video games in his 25 seasons with Alabama.

Along with six nationwide titles, Saban additionally gained 9 SEC championships at Alabama.

In his 28 years as a university head coach — a profession that included seven nationwide titles, 12 convention championships (11 SEC, 1 MAC) and 19 bowl recreation wins — Saban by no means had a shedding season. His worst seasons had been at Michigan State in 1996 and 1998 when the Spartans completed .500.

He made a two-year foray into the NFL to educate the Miami Dolphins earlier than returning to varsity soccer to revive considered one of its most storied applications, which hadn’t gained a nationwide title in 15 years. He gained extra video games in 17 seasons at Alabama (201) than the Crimson Tide had gained within the 24 seasons between Bryant’s retirement and Saban’s hiring (171).

Saban is 292-71-1 as a university coach, rating him sixth all time within the FBS in wins and twelfth in NCAA faculty soccer historical past no matter division. He led Toledo to a MAC championship in 1990, his lone season as that program’s coach. He then labored as Invoice Belichick’s defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns for 4 seasons earlier than changing into the primary Michigan State coach to guide his first three groups to bowl video games then taking LSU to the 2003 nationwide title.