Nick Saban Responds to Recent Rumors About His Return to Coaching

A couple weeks after rumors started to circulate about the possibility of Nick Saban returning to coaching, the college football legend gave an interesting response to a question about the topic.

When Mike Rodak of 247 Sports asked Saban directly, the coach offered a joke without shutting the door completely.

“I never really had a thought about getting back into coaching until two days ago,” Saban said. “Miss Terry said I had to run the sweeper in the entire downstairs. While I was running the sweeper, the thought occurred to me, ‘When you were a coach, you had a heck of a lot better job than this.’ So that’s the only time I considered it.”

Then, getting more serious, Saban said no, but only no for now….

“There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance (he presumably meant “entice”) me to go back to coaching,” said Saban.

What started this newfound interest in Saban coaching again? 

ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy floated the idea of Saban back roaming a college football sideline on his McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show.

He claims a person “in the know” believes Saban will coach again.

“This is a little bit out of left field, but the question was asked of me … a very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire,” said McElroy. “They seem to think Nick Saban’s not done coaching. I had a similar reaction. He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again. … Look, if it wasn’t someone notable, I’d never say a word.”

Notable Source Floats Possibility of Nick Saban Returning to Coaching

Lane Kiffin, who once revived his career by coaching under Saban, also believes his old boss will be back on a sideline, granted maybe in the NFL instead of in college football.

“He’s not going to need me to hire him,” Kiffin said, via Sam Hutchens of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger at SEC Media Days. “I don’t think he’s done. I think he’ll be back. Whether that’s college or NFL, I think he’ll be back.”

As a counter opinion, prominent SEC host and analyst Paul Finbaum doesn’t see Saban coming back.

After first offering a resounding “no” to McElroy’s claim, Paul Finebaum then explained why he can’t take the rumor seriously.

“Greg, you know Nick Saban better than I do, but I ran into somebody the other day who spends time with Saban in Florida – you can imagine where – and said that he is literally having the time of his life,” Finebaum said.

“And why wouldn’t he? I’m much closer to Nick Saban’s age than you are and I can assure you, when you have everything you want and you start playing golf at the best golf clubs in America and you start making friends who belong to even better golf clubs and you make a lot of money for doing very little work on TV, the interest in doing what he walked away from is not very high.

“He had a better situation at Alabama the day he left than anywhere he goes, let’s say it’s next year. Now, I don’t know whether it’s college or pros – could he be talked into something in the NFL? I don’t know how, because I don’t know that itch burns anymore, either. But my opinion is Nick Saban is done in coaching.”

To further support Saban having coached his last game, WVU director of athletics Wren Baker joked about getting a no from Miss Terry (Saban’s wife) before he started his coaching search that landed on the return of Rich Rodriguez. Saban was consulted during WVU’s search and has even publicly endorsed the Rodriguez hire.

Saban, a Fairmont, W.Va. native, capped off his career with a 292-71-1 college record, seven national championships, 11 SEC titles and multiple Coach of the Year honors.

Saban arrived in Alabama in 2007 after a failed stint in the NFL as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He then embarked on an illustrious run that would elevate his entire resume and stature to an epic level, making him the most accomplished college football coach ever. Saban won six of his seven National Championships at Alabama.

The 73-year-old also produced 44 NFL draft picks during his tenure as leader of the Crimson Tide. Before his success at Alabama, Saban won a national championship at LSU, led Michigan State from 1995 to 1999 and served on Bill Belichick’s staff with the Cleveland Browns.

Find more coverage of Nick Saban at WV Sports Now.