Nick Saban

Head coach, Alabama, 2007 to 2023
Before: LSU

College career297-71-1292 official wins · 5 vacated

Titles7national · 11 conference

Program liftNo. 9of 1,290 tenures since 1937

Now

Career arc

Bowls and playoffs: 19-12 · won 7 of 10 national title games

Michigan State’95L’96L’97LLSU’00W’01W’02L’03W★’04LAlabama’07W’08L’09W★’10W’11W★’12W★’13L’14L’15W’15W★’16W’16L’17W’17W★’18W’18L’19W’20W’20W★’21W’21L’22W’23L

Show all 31 games

Michigan State

1995Independence BowlL 26-45

1996Sun BowlL 0-38

1997Aloha BowlL 23-51

LSU

2000Peach BowlW 28-14

2001Sugar BowlW 47-34

2002Cotton Bowl ClassicL 20-35

2003 ★Sugar BowlW 21-14

2004Capital One BowlL 25-30

Alabama

2007Independence BowlW 30-24

2008Sugar BowlL 17-31

2009 ★BCS title gameW 37-21

2010Capital One BowlW 49-7

2011 ★BCS title gameW 21-0

2012 ★BCS title gameW 42-14

2013Sugar BowlL 31-45

2014 semiSugar BowlL 35-42

2015 semiCotton Bowl ClassicW 38-0

2015 ★CFP title gameW 45-40

2016 semiPeach BowlW 24-7

2016CFP title gameL 31-35

2017 semiSugar BowlW 24-6

2017 ★CFP title gameW 26-23

2018 semiOrange BowlW 45-34

2018CFP title gameL 16-44

2019Citrus BowlW 35-16

2020 semiRose BowlW 31-14

2020 ★CFP title gameW 52-24

2021 semiCotton Bowl ClassicW 27-6

2021CFP title gameL 18-33

2022Sugar BowlW 45-20

2023 semiRose BowlL 20-27

Report card

Defense carries it: 96th percentile defense, top-quarter offense at 88th.

Alabama, every completed season graded against the whole field, then averaged.

Offense

of which —88th

efficiency — 88th percentile success rate, 2007–23

A88th

Standard-downs success

B+78th

Passing-downs success

A83rd

Trench push (line yards)

B62nd

Red-zone scoring rate

B+73rd

Power-success (short yardage)

A85th

Ball security (giveaways per game)

Defense

A+

of which —96th

96th percentile SP+ defense, 2014–23 (SP+ starts 2014)

C-38th

Front-7 havoc

B+74th

Secondary havoc

B68th

Stuff rate (run defense)

B-54th

Takeaways per game

Each season is his team’s percentile among every team with that stat (the share it beat), averaged over his completed seasons here; a mid-season takeover year and the season in progress aren’t graded. Letters: A+ 90th percentile and up, A 80, B+ 70, B 60, B− 50, C+ 45, C 40, C− 30, D 15, F below.

Stats

Big games

Pick a job to see its years on their own.

Toledo1990 · 9-2Michigan State1995–99 · 34-24-1LSU2000–04 · 48-16Alabama2007–23 · 206-29All jobs297-71-1

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

2-0 against his rivals at Toledo.

Rivalry record

2-0

100.0% · 2 rivals

One-score games

3-2

60.0% · margin ≤8

Against the spread

No lines

no betting lines before 2013

Rivalry ledger

Northern Illinois1-0100%

Bowling Green1-0100%

Performance by opponent class

Regional Program

9-2 81.8%

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

4-6 against his rivals at Michigan State. Winless in 3 tries against Joe Tiller.

Rivalry record

4-6

40.0% · 2 rivals

One-score games

10-8-1

52.6% · margin ≤8

Against Blue Bloods or better

6-6

50.0%

Against the spread

No lines

no betting lines before 2013

Rivalry ledger

Michigan2-340%

Penn State2-340%

The toughest matchup

vs. Joe Tiller0-3

3 meetings, 1997–1999

’97 L’98 L’99 L

0% win rate across a real, 3-meeting series — short of the bar this site uses before badging a series “Nemesis.” Shown here as the toughest matchup on record, not an algorithmic crown.

Performance by opponent class

Dynasty

0-2 0.0%

Blue Blood

6-4 60.0%

Power Program

5-5 50.0%

National Program

11-11 50.0%

Regional Program

13-2 86.7%

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

12-4 against his rivals at LSU. Just 2-3 against Tommy Tuberville.

Rivalry record

12-4

75.0% · 4 rivals

One-score games

14-5

73.7% · margin ≤8

Against Blue Bloods or better

6-4

60.0%

Against the spread

No lines

no betting lines before 2013

Rivalry ledger

Alabama4-180%

Ole Miss4-180%

Arkansas3-260%

Tulane1-0100%

The toughest matchup

vs. Tommy Tuberville2-3

5 meetings, 2000–2004

’00 L’01 W’02 L’03 W’04 L

40% win rate across a real, 5-meeting series — short of the bar this site uses before badging a series “Nemesis.” Shown here as the toughest matchup on record, not an algorithmic crown.

Performance by opponent class

Blue Blood

6-4 60.0%

Power Program

9-8 52.9%

National Program

15-3 83.3%

Regional Program

15-1 93.8%

Signature games

1-2 vs. AP top 25 · 0-1 vs. the top 10 · 2004– (no AP data before 2004)

AP-ranked regular-season opponents since 2004, by rank (#1 at top) and year

win loss · higher = higher-ranked opponent · dashed line = top 10

Signature wins

Alabama · 2003

27-3

RivalQuality opponent

Oklahoma · 2003

21-14

Quality opponentBowl/CFP stakes

Alabama · 2001

35-21

RivalQuality opponent

Signature losses

Alabama · 2002

0-31

Rival

Texas · 2002

20-35

Bowl/CFP stakes

Ole Miss · 2001

24-35

Rival

Tags describe each game; they aren’t scores. The weighting that picks these games is still being tested.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

41-11 against his rivals at Alabama. Nobody he faced three or more times there has a winning record against him.

12-5 against Auburn, but 4-6-1 against the spread in the 11 games with a line.

Rivalry record

41-11

78.8% · 3 rivals

ATS 18-14-1 · 33 of 52 had a line

One-score games

35-21

62.5% · margin ≤8

Against Blue Bloods or better

25-13

65.8%

ATS 14-10 · 24 of 38 had a line

Against the spread

84-68-2

+1.4 pts a game vs. the line

154 of 235 had a line

Rivalry ledger

LSU13-572%ATS 7-4 11 of 18

Tennessee16-194%ATS 7-4 11 of 17

Auburn12-571%ATS 4-6-1 11 of 17

Closest series

vs. Dabo Swinney2-2

4 meetings, 2015–2018

’15 W · erased a 7-pt deficit’16 L · blew a 14-pt lead’17 W · wire to wire’18 L · blew a 2-pt lead

covered the spread

Performance by opponent class

Dynasty

1-2 33.3%ATS —

Blue Blood

24-11 68.6%ATS 13-9 22 of 35

Power Program

94-12 88.7%ATS 42-32-2 76 of 106

National Program

32-2 94.1%ATS 11-10 21 of 34

Regional Program

40-2 95.2%ATS 12-11 23 of 42

Signature games

67-18 vs. AP top 25 · 24-8 vs. the top 10

Every AP-ranked regular-season opponent, by rank (#1 at top) and year

win loss · higher = higher-ranked opponent · dashed line = top 10

Signature wins

LSU · 2011

21-0

RivalQuality opponentNational title game

Ohio State · 2020

52-24

Quality opponentNational title game

LSU · 2020

55-17

RivalQuality opponent

Signature losses

Oklahoma · 2013

31-45

UpsetBowl/CFP stakes

Georgia · 2021

18-33

National title game

Clemson · 2018

16-44

UpsetNational title game

Tags describe each game; they aren’t scores. The weighting that picks these games is still being tested.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

59-21 against his rivals. Winless in 3 tries against Joe Tiller.

12-5 against Auburn, but 4-6-1 against the spread in the 11 games with a line.

Rivalry record

59-21

73.8% · 11 rivals

ATS 18-14-1 · 33 of 80 had a line

One-score games

62-36-1

62.6% · margin ≤8

Against Blue Bloods or better

37-23

61.7%

ATS 14-10 · 24 of 60 had a line

Against the spread

84-68-2

+1.4 pts a game vs. the line

154 of 370 had a line

Rivalry ledger

LSU13-572%ATS 7-4 11 of 18

Tennessee16-194%ATS 7-4 11 of 17

Auburn12-571%ATS 4-6-1 11 of 17

Michigan2-340%ATS —

Penn State2-340%ATS —

Alabama4-180%ATS —

Ole Miss4-180%ATS —

Arkansas3-260%ATS —

The toughest matchup

vs. Joe Tiller0-3

3 meetings, 1997–1999

’97 L’98 L’99 L

0% win rate across a real, 3-meeting series — short of the bar this site uses before badging a series “Nemesis.” Shown here as the toughest matchup on record, not an algorithmic crown.

Performance by opponent class

Dynasty

1-4 20.0%ATS —

Blue Blood

36-19 65.5%ATS 13-9 22 of 55

Power Program

108-25 81.2%ATS 42-32-2 76 of 133

National Program

58-16 78.4%ATS 11-10 21 of 74

Regional Program

77-7 91.7%ATS 12-11 23 of 84

Signature games

68-20 vs. AP top 25 · 24-9 vs. the top 10 · 2004– (no AP data before 2004)

AP-ranked regular-season opponents since 2004, by rank (#1 at top) and year

win loss · higher = higher-ranked opponent · dashed line = top 10

Signature wins

LSU · 2011

21-0

RivalQuality opponentNational title game

Ohio State · 2020

52-24

Quality opponentNational title game

LSU · 2020

55-17

RivalQuality opponent

Signature losses

Stanford · 1996

0-38

Bowl/CFP stakes

Washington · 1997

23-51

Bowl/CFP stakes

Alabama · 2002

0-31

Rival

These losses tie at the model's current max -- an editorial pick among a real tie, not a clean ranking.

Tags describe each game; they aren’t scores. The weighting that picks these games is still being tested.

ATS is his record against the spread: did his team beat the closing betting line, winning by more than it or losing by less? Lines start in 2013; a dash means fewer than 6 of those games had one. One-score games carry no spread record: a big favorite that wins a close game has almost always failed to cover, so that number would say nothing about the coach.

Defining games during this era

From our list of the 50 most defining games of the Playoff era, ranked by how much each game mattered, not by date.

#1of 50W2017 NCG · Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (OT)January 8, 2018 · Mercedes-Benz Stadium · AtlantaThe night Alabama benched Hurts at halftime, gave the ball to a freshman, and won the title on the throw that rewrote the era.Tua relieves Hurts at half · 2nd-and-26 to Smith for the title #4of 50L2016 NCG · Clemson 35, Alabama 31January 9, 2017 · Raymond James Stadium · TampaWatson to Renfrow with one second left — Clemson's first national title since 1981 and the moment the Saban-vs-Swinney decade hardened into legend.Watson to Renfrow · 1 second left · Clemson's first title since '81

11 more from the list

#5of 50L2023 Rose Bowl semifinal · Michigan 27, Alabama 20 (OT)January 1, 2024 · Rose Bowl · PasadenaSaban's last game — and the goal-line stop that ended the seventeen-year Process era.Milroe stop on 4th-and-3 · Saban's last game #8of 50L2017 Iron Bowl · Auburn 26, Alabama 14November 25, 2017 · Jordan-Hare Stadium · AuburnThe regular-season game that should have ended Alabama's playoff hopes — and the season that proved the committee was going to weight the SEC heavier than the math said.Auburn knocks UA out of the SEC title game · Stidham 7-of-7 in 4Q #10of 50L2018 NCG · Clemson 44, Alabama 16January 7, 2019 · Levi's Stadium · Santa ClaraThe Lawrence-as-true-freshman national title — a 28-point win over Saban's Alabama that closed the Clemson program's back-to-back-titles era and reset the rivalry's terms.Lawrence true-frosh title · 28-point margin · Clemson 15-0 #14of 50W2018 SEC Championship · Alabama 35, Georgia 28December 1, 2018 · Mercedes-Benz Stadium · AtlantaHurts in relief of an injured Tua — and the second Atlanta-CFP-impact game that made the 2018 Alabama-Georgia rivalry the era's most overheated.Hurts off the bench · Tua hurt · Alabama 14-0 #16of 50W2018 Iron Bowl · Alabama 52, Auburn 21November 24, 2018 · Bryant-Denny · TuscaloosaThe 31-point Iron Bowl rout that Alabama posted on the way to the SEC title game — and the season-defining evidence that Tua's offense was the era's best.Tua's healthy peak · Alabama 12-0 #17of 50W2014 Iron Bowl · Alabama 55, Auburn 44November 29, 2014The shootout that put Alabama in the inaugural Playoff and gave Henry the November tape that pushed his 2015 Heisman.Henry 110 rush · Cooper 13 catches · Alabama 11-1 to SEC title #27of 50L2014 Sugar Bowl semifinal · Ohio State 42, Alabama 35January 1, 2015Ohio State's Sugar Bowl semifinal upset of Alabama — and the inaugural-Playoff bracket's first true upset by third-seed-line standards.Cardale Jones 243 pass yds · Elliott 230 rush · OSU's road to title #29of 50W2017 Sugar Bowl semifinal · Alabama 24, Clemson 6January 1, 2018The third Alabama-Clemson Playoff meeting — and the defensive shutout that proved Saban's 2017 program was the era's deepest.Saban defense holds Watson-less Clemson to six · 3rd straight semifinal vs UC #33of 50L2022 Third Saturday in October · Tennessee 52, Alabama 49October 15, 2022 · Neyland Stadium · KnoxvilleTennessee's first win over Alabama since 2006 — McGrady's walk-off field goal, the goalpost-into-the-Tennessee River postgame, and Heupel's program reset.Hooker 385 pass · McGrady walk-off FG · Tennessee 7-0 · Heupel arrival #34of 50W2014 SEC Championship · Alabama 42, Missouri 13December 6, 2014The SEC Championship that gave Alabama the second seed in the inaugural Playoff — and the bracket-positioning model that the next decade refined.Henry 141 rush · UA in inaugural CFP · 2nd seed #35of 50W2021 Cotton Bowl semifinal · Alabama 27, Cincinnati 6December 31, 2021The Cotton Bowl semifinal that finally put a Group-of-Five team in the four-team Playoff — and the score that ended the experiment.First Group-of-Five team in CFP · UC 13-0 entering

How he plays

more pass-heavy than 52% of FBS coaches →

Run/pass mix, by field position

Ran more than the situation called for under Daboll and Rees; passed more under Sarkisian and O'Brien.

13,966 run and pass snaps at Alabama, 2007–2023, his own games, one row per offensive coordinator. Each cell is how much more often he passed than the rest of FBS did in the same situation (field zone, down, distance, score, quarter, same season), in percentage points.

backed upown territorymidfieldopp. territoryred zoneOC unrecorded2007–13−3+1−1−10Kiffin2014–16−4+3−1−1+4Daboll2017−14−4−7−3+1Locksley2018−5+4+2+100Sarkisian2019–20+9+11+4+10+5O'Brien2021–22+10+7+5+11+8Rees2023−130−2−4−10All years2007–23−1+3+1+2+2

passed moreran morewithin noise (95% range includes 0)

Pass rate, stint by stint

Where each stint’s offense sat between run-first and pass-first, and how far it moved from one season to the next, against the FBS-wide average of 41% pass. The band is that stint’s real season-to-season range, not a fixed-width box.

Pass rate — share of offensive plays that were pass attemptsfirst covered seasonmost recent covered seasonfull season-to-season range (3+ covered seasons)

How much that is, against every other stint

Season-to-season pass-rate range for all 449 FBS coaching stints with at least three covered seasons, 2004–2025.

Typical stint7.010.3 median14.8middle half of all stints

Alabama15.9pt#88 of 449 · more than most

Building the roster

Six numbers on how he actually stocks a roster, from signing day to draft day.

1His recruiting
2Who followed him
3Roster ownership
4Size up front
5Where he recruits
6The NFL pipeline

His recruiting, really

#2Nationally, his own classes

His 6 ranked Alabama classes of his own have averaged #2 nationally — best #1, worst #5.

2018

His class

2019

His class

2020

His class

2021

His class

2022

His class

2023

His class

His class — he had the full signing cycle

Rank is each signing class’s national recruiting rank (#1 is best). Only a class he had a full signing cycle to build counts as his.

Followed him here

Michigan State→

LSU2000

No confirmed followers on this move. This move predates this database’s 2021 transfer-portal tracking floor, so real followers may be undercounted here.

Players who transferred from his old program to his new one through the portal in the same year he made the move. Name-matching across data sources misses some, so every count is a floor, not an exact number.

Roster ownership

100%His own players

of his 2023 roster arrived on his watch — 138 of 138 players. Nobody is left from before he was hired.

Of his own players on this roster, 4% came through the transfer portal; the rest are non-portal arrivals (high-school signees, JUCO transfers, walk-ons).

Everyone he has brought in, 2007–2023Counting players who have since left: 7% of the 149 arrivals we can classify came through the portal.

This tenure spans the 2021 transfer-portal tracking floor: seasons before 2021 structurally cannot be classified portal-vs-not (they land in 'unknown' below), so the portal-share figure understates how many pre-2021 arrivals might have been transfers under the pre-portal-tracking transfer rules.

“His own” means the player arrived while he was head coach; “inherited” means a predecessor brought him in.

Size up front

+6 lbAgainst the FBS average

Offensive linemen on his Alabama rosters have averaged 6 lb heavier than the FBS average (2010–2023 rosters on record) — heavier than 84% of FBS coaching runs since 2010.

Alabama2010–2023+6 lb

His seasonsMiddle half of FBS coaching runs since 2010

Average listed weight of every offensive lineman on each season’s roster, holdovers included, against every FBS roster that season (2010 on; a program needs 3+ seasons under him to appear). Weights are the ones programs publish, and programs list differently. This describes size only — not scheme, and not quality.

Where he recruits

ALTop state

is his biggest recruiting state: 123 of 417 signees (29%) across his 2007–2023 tenure, drawn from 35 states in all. Next: FL (56).

Where his signees came from, 2007–2023 (417 high-school, JUCO and prep signees)

62% of his signees come from AL and its 4 border states (FL 56, GA 50, MS 16, TN 14).

Off this map: 18 signees to the west (CA 12, UT 2, others).

By region

South

366

Midwest

West

Northeast

Feeder school IMG Academy 11

Roster distance from campus (Bryant-Denny Stadium, AL)

median hometown distance: 208 mi
within 100 mi: 28%
within 500 mi: 70%
beyond 1,000 mi: 4%

132 of 138 roster players with a known hometown (96% coverage)

The map counts signed recruits across his tenure; the distance figures cover his current roster, transfers and walk-ons included. Two different groups, kept separate on purpose.

The NFL pipeline

133Drafted

players drafted into the NFL off his teams here. He brought in 104 of them himself. 29 more can’t be traced to who brought them in (no roster record). 47 went in the first round.

His recruits 104Inherited 0Can’t verify 29104 roster-verified · 29 estimated

Most recent picks first

Year	Pick	Player	Pos	NFL team
2024	R1.07	JC Latham	Offensive Tackle	Tennessee Titans
2024	R1.17	Dallas Turner	Defensive Edge	Minnesota Vikings
2024	R1.24	Terrion Arnold	Cornerback	Detroit Lions
2024	R2.09	Kool-Aid McKinstry	Cornerback	New Orleans Saints
2024	R2.25	Chris Braswell	Defensive Edge	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2024	R3.16	Jermaine Burton	Wide Receiver	Cincinnati Bengals
2024	R4.05	Justin Eboigbe	Defensive Tackle	Los Angeles Chargers
2024	R6.10	Jase McClellan	Running Back	Atlanta Falcons

Year	Pick	Player	Pos	NFL team	Note
2024	R6.27	Will Reichard	Place Kicker	Minnesota Vikings
2024	R7.37	Jaylen Key	Safety	New York Jets
2023	R1.01	Bryce Young	Quarterback	Carolina Panthers
2023	R1.03	Will Anderson Jr.	Outside Linebacker	Houston Texans
2023	R1.12	Jahmyr Gibbs	Running Back	Detroit Lions
2023	R2.14	Brian Branch	Safety	Detroit Lions
2023	R3.02	Tyler Steen	Offensive Tackle	Philadelphia Eagles
2023	R3.07	Byron Young	Defensive Tackle	Las Vegas Raiders
2023	R3.32	Jordan Battle	Safety	Cincinnati Bengals
2023	R3.38	Cameron Latu	Tight End	San Francisco 49ers
2023	R5.33	Henry To'oTo'o	Inside Linebacker	Houston Texans
2023	R7.07	DeMarcco Hellams	Safety	Atlanta Falcons
2022	R1.07	Evan Neal	Offensive Tackle	New York Giants
2022	R1.12	Jameson Williams	Wide Receiver	Detroit Lions
2022	R2.12	John Metchie III	Wide Receiver	Houston Texans
2022	R2.15	Phidarian Mathis	Defensive Tackle	Washington Commanders
2022	R3.11	Christian Harris	Inside Linebacker	Houston Texans
2022	R3.34	Brian Robinson Jr.	Running Back	Washington Commanders
2022	R4.14	Jalyn Armour-Davis	Cornerback	Baltimore Ravens
2021	R1.06	Jaylen Waddle	Wide Receiver	Miami Dolphins
2021	R1.09	Pat Surtain II	Cornerback	Denver Broncos
2021	R1.10	DeVonta Smith	Wide Receiver	Philadelphia Eagles
2021	R1.15	Mac Jones	Quarterback	New England Patriots
2021	R1.17	Alex Leatherwood	Offensive Tackle	Las Vegas Raiders
2021	R1.24	Najee Harris	Running Back	Pittsburgh Steelers
2021	R2.05	Landon Dickerson	Center	Philadelphia Eagles
2021	R2.06	Christian Barmore	Defensive Tackle	New England Patriots
2021	R6.09	Deonte Brown	Offensive Guard	Carolina Panthers
2021	R6.38	Thomas Fletcher	Long Snapper	Carolina Panthers
2020	R1.05	Tua Tagovailoa	Quarterback	Miami Dolphins
2020	R1.10	Jedrick Wills Jr.	Offensive Tackle	Cleveland Browns
2020	R1.12	Henry Ruggs III	Wide Receiver	Las Vegas Raiders
2020	R1.15	Jerry Jeudy	Wide Receiver	Denver Broncos
2020	R2.04	Xavier McKinney	Safety	New York Giants
2020	R2.19	Trevon Diggs	Cornerback	Dallas Cowboys
2020	R2.24	Raekwon Davis	Defensive Tackle	Miami Dolphins
2020	R3.20	Terrell Lewis	Outside Linebacker	Los Angeles Rams
2020	R3.23	Anfernee Jennings	Outside Linebacker	New England Patriots
2019	R1.03	Quinnen Williams	Defensive Tackle	New York Jets
2019	R1.11	Jonah Williams	Offensive Tackle	Cincinnati Bengals
2019	R1.24	Josh Jacobs	Running Back	Oakland Raiders
2019	R2.18	Irv Smith Jr.	Tight End	Minnesota Vikings
2019	R3.23	Damien Harris	Running Back	New England Patriots
2019	R4.13	Christian Miller	Outside Linebacker	Carolina Panthers
2019	R5.01	Deionte Thompson	Safety	Arizona Cardinals
2019	R5.15	Ross Pierschbacher	Offensive Guard	Washington Redskins
2019	R5.17	Mack Wilson	Inside Linebacker	Cleveland Browns
2019	R6.19	Isaiah Buggs	Defensive Tackle	Pittsburgh Steelers
2018	R1.11	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Safety	Miami Dolphins
2018	R1.13	Da'Ron Payne	Defensive Tackle	Washington Redskins
2018	R1.22	Rashaan Evans	Inside Linebacker	Tennessee Titans
2018	R1.26	Calvin Ridley	Wide Receiver	Atlanta Falcons
2018	R3.29	Ronnie Harrison	Safety	Jacksonville Jaguars
2018	R4.14	Da'Shawn Hand	Defensive End	Detroit Lions
2018	R4.18	Anthony Averett	Cornerback	Baltimore Ravens
2018	R5.35	JK Scott	Punter	Green Bay Packers
2018	R6.23	Shaun Dion Hamilton	Inside Linebacker	Washington Redskins
2018	R6.41	Bradley Bozeman	Center	Baltimore Ravens
2018	R7.18	Bo Scarbrough	Running Back	Dallas Cowboys
2018	R7.28	Joshua Frazier	Defensive Tackle	Pittsburgh Steelers
2017	R1.16	Marlon Humphrey	Cornerback	Baltimore Ravens
2017	R1.17	Jonathan Allen	Defensive Tackle	Washington Redskins
2017	R1.19	O.J. Howard	Tight End	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2017	R1.31	Reuben Foster	Inside Linebacker	San Francisco 49ers
2017	R2.02	Cam Robinson	Offensive Tackle	Jacksonville Jaguars
2017	R2.17	Ryan Anderson	Outside Linebacker	Washington Redskins
2017	R2.23	Dalvin Tomlinson	Defensive Tackle	New York Giants
2017	R3.14	Tim Williams	Outside Linebacker	Baltimore Ravens
2017	R3.15	ArDarius Stewart	Wide Receiver	New York Jets
2017	R4.05	Eddie Jackson	Safety	Chicago Bears
2016	R1.18	Ryan Kelly	Center	Indianapolis Colts
2016	R2.10	Reggie Ragland	Inside Linebacker	Buffalo Bills
2016	R2.14	Derrick Henry	Running Back	Tennessee Titans
2016	R2.15	A'Shawn Robinson	Defensive Tackle	Detroit Lions
2016	R2.18	Jarran Reed	Defensive Tackle	Seattle Seahawks
2016	R2.29	Cyrus Jones	Cornerback	New England Patriots
2016	R3.10	Kenyan Drake	Running Back	Miami Dolphins
2015	R1.04	Amari Cooper	Wide Receiver	Oakland Raiders
2015	R2.01	Landon Collins	Safety	New York Giants
2015	R2.04	T.J. Yeldon	Running Back	Jacksonville Jaguars
2015	R4.09	Jalston Fowler	Fullback	Tennessee Titans
2015	R4.13	Arie Kouandjio	Offensive Guard	Washington Redskins
2015	R7.11	Austin Shepherd	Offensive Tackle	Minnesota Vikings
2015	R7.36	Xzavier Dickson	Defensive End	New England Patriots
2014	R1.17	C.J. Mosley	Inside Linebacker	Baltimore Ravens
2014	R1.21	Ha Ha Clinton-Dix	Safety	Green Bay Packers	Estimated
2014	R2.12	Cyrus Kouandjio	Offensive Tackle	Buffalo Bills
2014	R4.23	Kevin Norwood	Wide Receiver	Seattle Seahawks
2014	R5.20	Ed Stinson	Defensive End	Arizona Cardinals	Estimated
2014	R5.24	AJ McCarron	Quarterback	Cincinnati Bengals	Estimated
2014	R5.27	Vinnie Sunseri	Safety	New Orleans Saints	Estimated
2014	R6.01	Jeoffrey Pagan	Defensive End	Houston Texans
2013	R1.09	Dee Milliner	Cornerback	New York Jets	Estimated
2013	R1.10	Chance Warmack	Offensive Guard	Tennessee Titans	Estimated
2013	R1.11	D.J. Fluker	Offensive Tackle	San Diego Chargers
2013	R2.29	Eddie Lacy	Running Back	Green Bay Packers
2013	R4.02	Nico Johnson	Inside Linebacker	Kansas City Chiefs
2013	R4.16	Barrett Jones	Center	St. Louis Rams	Estimated
2013	R5.04	Jesse Williams	Defensive Tackle	Seattle Seahawks
2013	R5.24	Quinton Dial	Defensive End	San Francisco 49ers
2013	R7.05	Michael Williams	Tight End	Detroit Lions	Estimated
2012	R1.03	Trent Richardson	Running Back	Cleveland Browns
2012	R1.07	Mark Barron	Safety	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Estimated
2012	R1.17	Dre Kirkpatrick	Cornerback	Cincinnati Bengals
2012	R1.25	Dont'a Hightower	Inside Linebacker	New England Patriots	Estimated
2012	R2.03	Courtney Upshaw	Defensive End	Baltimore Ravens	Estimated
2012	R5.01	Josh Chapman	Defensive Tackle	Indianapolis Colts	Estimated
2012	R5.11	De'quan Menzie	Cornerback	Kansas City Chiefs	Estimated
2012	R7.40	Brad Smelley	Tight End	Cleveland Browns	Estimated
2011	R1.03	Marcell Dareus	Defensive Tackle	Buffalo Bills	Estimated
2011	R1.06	Julio Jones	Wide Receiver	Atlanta Falcons	Estimated
2011	R1.25	James Carpenter	Offensive Guard	Seattle Seahawks
2011	R1.28	Mark Ingram	Running Back	New Orleans Saints	Estimated
2011	R7.05	Greg McElroy	Quarterback	New York Jets	Estimated
2010	R1.08	Rolando McClain	Inside Linebacker	Oakland Raiders	Estimated
2010	R1.20	Kareem Jackson	Cornerback	Houston Texans	Estimated
2010	R2.18	Javier Arenas	Cornerback	Kansas City Chiefs	Estimated
2010	R2.25	Terrence Cody	Defensive Tackle	Baltimore Ravens	Estimated
2010	R3.34	Mike Johnson	Offensive Guard	Atlanta Falcons	Estimated
2010	R7.04	Marquis Johnson	Cornerback	St. Louis Rams	Estimated
2010	R7.40	Brandon Deaderick	Defensive End	New England Patriots	Estimated
2009	R1.06	Andre Smith	Offensive Tackle	Cincinnati Bengals	Estimated
2009	R3.10	Glen Coffee	Running Back	San Francisco 49ers	Estimated
2009	R3.13	Antoine Caldwell	Center	Houston Texans	Estimated
2009	R3.31	Rashad Johnson	Safety	Arizona Cardinals	Estimated

A pick counts toward his tenure when the player’s final college season was one he coached, a checkable rule rather than a claim about who developed the player. A blank note means the player is on a verified roster and arrived on his watch. “Estimated” means no roster record, so the final season is assumed to be the year before the draft.

Career

Coaching career

7 national titles · 11 conference titles

NFL head coach: Dolphins 2005–06 · 15-17 source

See Alabama’s full coaching history →

The arc of his career is on Now.

Transformer raised the program into the sport's top tier, or higher within it · Builder meaningfully raised a program that wasn't one · Steady no large move in either direction on our stature ladder

2007–2023

Alabama Transformer ◆ coach of the year

Power Program I → Dynasty (left at Blue Blood)

Closest comparable run: Dabo Swinney’s Clemson run (2008–now)

Nick Saban took Alabama from Power Program I to Dynasty — 10 Dynasty seasons.

+41.8 pts over 17 seasons · top 4% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

1st-best Alabama tenure of 12 by the numbers.

Followed Mike Shula (2003–2006) · succeeded by Kalen DeBoer (2024–now).

System Shift, on arrival

System Shift, on departure

Season	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Record & result
Record	7-6	12-2	14-0	10-3	12-1	13-1	11-2	12-2	14-1	14-1	13-1	14-1	11-2	13-0	13-2	11-2	12-2
Postseason	W bowl	L bowl	Champion	W bowl	Champion	Champion	L bowl	CFP loss	Champion	Title game L	Champion	Title game L	W bowl	Champion	Title game L	W bowl	CFP loss
Coordinators
OC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Lane Kiffin	Lane Kiffin	Lane Kiffin	Mike Locksley / Brian Daboll	Mike Locksley / Josh Gattis	Steve Sarkisian	Steve Sarkisian	Bill O'Brien	Bill O'Brien	Tommy Rees
DC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Kirby Smart	Kirby Smart	Jeremy Pruitt	Tosh Lupoi / Jeremy Pruitt	Pete Golding / Tosh Lupoi	Charles Kelly / Pete Golding	Charles Kelly / Pete Golding	Charles Kelly / Pete Golding	Charles Kelly / Pete Golding	Kevin Steele
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	46	68	69	98	68	99	96	95	89	85	90	99	98	100	94	94	91
Defense	51	90	100	92	100	88	90	86	98	100	100	73	100	97	96	91	73
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	43.9	33.9	36.1	46.8	44.3	42.2	48.1	41.8	40.4	41.5	33.2	46.7	54.0	52.8	46.0	46.5	36.0
Red-zone pass%	34.1	25.6	33.3	47.5	36.8	29.8	30.8	42.4	30.8	36.3	34.1	40.5	43.4	38.8	51.0	43.3	26.7
4th-down go%opp. territory	18.8	13.3	12.3	18.2	12.9	18.8	29.2	30.6	28.8	20.0	29.4	28.0	33.3	31.8	30.0	25.0	17.5

Recruiter or developer?

Outperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

+16.7 pts

#47 of 208 · top quarter

Defense vs. talent

+17.5 pts

#39 of 208 · top quarter

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Who they bring in

Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.

Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.

Avg. size (raw)

6′1″, 216 lbs

across 11 of 14 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix

Size vs. position-typical

+5.4 lbs

#94 of 255 · middle half

Avg. class year

#1 of 255 · top quarter

Avg. portal rating

3.6★

rated arrivals only

Top states: CA (4), FL (3), GA (2), MO (1), LA (1)

Who won the portal our read

Talent added

52.9

position-weighted

Talent lost

59.7

position-weighted

Net

-6.8

arrivals minus departures

Best addition: Tyler Buchner (QB) from Notre Dame

Biggest loss: Paul Tyson (QB) to Arizona State

Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Lane Kiffin → Mike Locksley (co) / Brian Daboll · 2017

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 41.5% → 33.2% (-8.3 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 73% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Mike Locksley (co) / Brian Daboll → Mike Locksley / Josh Gattis (co) · 2018

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 33.2% → 46.7% (+13.5 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 78% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Mike Locksley / Josh Gattis (co) → Steve Sarkisian · 2019

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 46.7% → 54.0% (+7.2 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 70% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Steve Sarkisian → Bill O'Brien · 2021The system held

2-season window either side.

1st-down pass rate: 53.4% → 46.3% (-7.2 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 19% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Bill O'Brien → Tommy Rees · 2023

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 46.5% → 36.0% (-10.5 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 40% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Kirby Smart → Jeremy Pruitt · 2016

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Jeremy Pruitt → Tosh Lupoi (co) / Jeremy Pruitt · 2017

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Tosh Lupoi (co) / Jeremy Pruitt → Pete Golding (co) / Tosh Lupoi · 2018

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Pete Golding (co) / Tosh Lupoi → Charles Kelly (co) / Pete Golding · 2019

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Charles Kelly (co) / Pete Golding → Kevin Steele · 2023

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Punter from high school

75%

#28 of 29 stints

Grows Kicker from high school

100%

#52 of 56 stints

Postseason detail2007: Beat Colorado 30-24 Bowl2008: Lost to Utah 17-31 Allstate Sugar Bowl2009: Beat Texas 37-21 Citi Bcs National Championship Game2010: Beat Michigan State 49-7 Capital One Bowl2011: Beat LSU 21-0 Allstate Bcs National Championship2012: Beat Notre Dame 42-14 Discover Bcs National Championship2013: Lost to Oklahoma 31-45 Allstate Sugar Bowl2014: Lost to Ohio State 35-42 Allstate Sugar Bowl - Semifinal2015: Beat Michigan State 38-0 CFP2015: Beat Clemson 45-40 Cfp National Championship Game Pres. By At&T2016: Beat Washington 24-7 CFP2016: Lost to Clemson 31-35 Cfp National Championship Game Presented By At&T2017: Beat Clemson 24-6 Allstate Sugar Bowl - Cfp Semifinal2017: Beat Georgia 26-23 Cfp National Championship Presented By At&T2018: Beat Oklahoma 45-34 Capital One Orange Bowl - Cfp Semifinal2018: Lost to Clemson 16-44 Cfp National Championship Presented By At&T2019: Beat Michigan 35-16 Vrbo Citrus Bowl2020: Beat Notre Dame 31-14 Rose Bowl Game Presented by Capital One - CFP Semifinal2020: Beat Ohio State 52-24 CFP National Championship pres. by AT&T2021: Beat Cincinnati 27-6 CFP Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic2021: Lost to Georgia 18-33 CFP National Championship pres. by AT&T2022: Beat Kansas State 45-20 Allstate Sugar Bowl2023: Lost to Michigan 20-27 CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Pres. by Prudential

Coach of the Year: SEC Coach of the Year (2020)

23 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Derrick Henry (2015), Jonathan Allen (2016), Tua Tagovailoa (2018), Patrick Surtain II (2020), Christian Barmore (2020), Mac Jones (2020), Najee Harris (2020), DeVonta Smith (2020) + 15 more

206-29

2000–2004

LSU Builder≈

Power Program III → Blue Blood

Closest comparable run: Rhett Lashlee’s SMU run (2022–now)

Nick Saban raised LSU from Power Program III to Blue Blood.

+13.8 pts over 5 seasons · top 2% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

6th-best LSU tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Gerry DiNardo (1995–1999) · succeeded by Les Miles (2005–2016).

System Shift, on departure

Season	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Record & result
Record	8-4	10-3	8-5	13-1	9-3
Postseason	W bowl	W bowl	L bowl	W bowl	L bowl
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	81
Defense	—	—	—	—	84
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	29.6
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	28.6
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	24.0

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Interior line from high school

100%

#198 of 224 stints

Grows D-line from high school

100%

#214 of 239 stints

Postseason detail2000: Beat Georgia Tech 28-14 Bowl2001: Beat Illinois 47-34 Bowl2002: Lost to Texas 20-35 Cotton Bowl2003: Beat Oklahoma 21-14 Nokia Sugar Bowl2004: Lost to Iowa 25-30 Capital One Bowl

22 NFL Draft picks: Brandon Winey (2001), Josh Booty (2001), Louis Williams (2001), Josh Reed (2002), Rohan Davey (2002), Jarvis Green (2002), Robert Royal (2002), Howard Green (2002) + 14 more

48-16

1995–1999

Michigan State Steady

Power Program III → Power Program III

Closest comparable run: Jim Donnan’s Georgia run (1996–2000)

Nick Saban held Michigan State at Power Program III for 5 seasons.

+1.5 pts over 5 seasons · top 26% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

7th-best Michigan State tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed George Perles (1983–1994) · succeeded by Bobby Williams (2000–2002).

Season	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Record & result
Record	6-5-1	6-6	7-5	6-6	9-2
Postseason	L bowl	L bowl	L bowl	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1995: Lost to LSU 26-45 Bowl1996: Lost to Stanford 0-38 Bowl1997: Lost to Washington 23-51 Bowl

14 NFL Draft picks: Derrick Mason (1997), Nigea Carter (1997), Flozell Adams (1998), Ike Reese (1998), Scott Shaw (1998), Dimitrius Underwood (1999), Sedrick Irvin (1999), Plaxico Burress (2000) + 6 more

34-24-1

1990

Toledo Steady

Regional Program III → Regional Program II

Nick Saban moved Toledo from Regional Program III to Regional Program II in 1 season.

Followed Dan Simrell (1982–1989) · succeeded by Gary Pinkel (1991–2000).

9-2

Selector agreement

The AP and Coaches’ polls split on the national champion in 1 season of this coach’s career — shown as each selector’s own pick, not a single consensus title.

All-time wins

Wins at programs this site tracks, 1936–present — one consistent count for every coach, not each program’s own historically reported total.

4th all-time in FBS wins

Was he good?

The data leans positive: every conclusive reading points the same way.

Raised the program

+41.8 pts at Alabama · #9 of 1290 · top quarter

Also coached: Michigan State (+1.5), LSU (+13.8).

Beat his talent

Offense vs. talent

+16.7 pts

#47 of 208 · top quarter · 9 covered seasons

Defense vs. talent

+17.5 pts

#39 of 208 · top quarter · 9 covered seasons

His own effect, isolated?

Offense marginal impact

+0.99

#3 of 319 · more than most

Defense marginal impact

+0.73

#1 of 325 · more than most

Model fit as of 2026-09-04.

Nick Saban in History

Saban retires; Alabama hires DeBoerCoach change · Jan 10, 2024

In this company

Other coaches who reached Blue-Blood-or-better at multiple programs: Urban Meyer, Lane Kiffin, Ed Orgeron.

Nick Saban

Now

Career arc

Report card

Offense

Defense

Fans

Stats

Big games

The big-game ledger

The big-game ledger

The big-game ledger

Signature games

The big-game ledger

Signature games

The big-game ledger

Signature games

Defining games during this era

How he plays

Run/pass mix, by field position

Building the roster

His recruiting, really

Followed him here

Roster ownership

Size up front

Where he recruits

The NFL pipeline

News

What others say about him

What others say

In his own words

Career

Coaching career

Selector agreement

All-time wins

Was he good?

Nick Saban in History

In this company