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Coach Profile

Nick Saban

1990-2023Alabama, LSU, Michigan State, Toledo

4 schools coached, anchored by Alabama.

Nick Saban coached 28 seasons, won 80.6%, and posted an average SRS of 19.8. Best season: 2016 Alabama. The profile was balanced with a highly volatile profile. 4 stints shaped the career arc.

Career record
297-71-1
Career win rate
80.6%
Average SRS
19.8
Peak SRS
33.6

Career Dossier

One glance at the full arc.

The profile below keeps the headline numbers visible, then moves into tenure shape, school impact, and full season detail.

Seasons coached
28
Career span
34 years
Best finish
#1
Consistency
13.5

Primary school anchor

Alabama

Balanced profile with 4 program stops and a peak score of 98.5.

Career Arc

Track how the coach's season-to-season performance changed over time, where the peak landed, and where each school stint appears.

Focus on where peaks separate, where floors hold, and how the shape of each career changed over time.

Nick Saban
EliteStrongAverageLean
Nick Saban: 1995 Michigan StateNick Saban: 2000 LSUNick Saban: 2007 Alabama
1990Actual season year • SRS range -6.3 to 33.62023

Active comparison point

Nick Saban2016

Selected

2016 Alabama

Best season

14-1 • SRS 33.6 • SP Overall 31.7

Win %

93.3%

YoY SRS

+6.3

SP Off / Def

40.0 / 8.6

Finish

#2

Comparison context

Focus a point to inspect how it stacks up against the rest of the field.

Ranked opponent record

Track career record against ranked opponents with switchable poll source and ranking timing.

Using AP Top 25 rankings at the time of each game; week-one games use the week-one ranking release when available.

Poll source
Ranking timing

Top 25

101-50

Games
151
Win rate
66.9%

Top 10

43-27

Games
70
Win rate
61.4%

Top 5

27-17

Games
44
Win rate
61.4%
View ranked game results151
2023 Regular Week 14AlabamaGeorgia#1W27-24
2023 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#13W42-28
2023 Regular Week 8AlabamaTennessee#17W34-20
2023 Regular Week 4AlabamaOle Miss#15W24-10
2023 Regular Week 2AlabamaTexas#11L24-34
2023 Postseason Week 1AlabamaMichigan#1L20-27
2022 Regular Week 11AlabamaOle Miss#11W30-24
2022 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#15L31-32
2022 Regular Week 8AlabamaMississippi State#24W30-6
2022 Regular Week 7AlabamaTennessee#6L49-52
2022 Regular Week 5AlabamaArkansas#20W49-26
2022 Postseason Week 1AlabamaKansas State#14W45-20
2021 Regular Week 14AlabamaGeorgia#1W41-24
2021 Regular Week 12AlabamaArkansas#21W42-35
2021 Regular Week 5AlabamaOle Miss#12W42-21
2021 Regular Week 3AlabamaFlorida#11W31-29
2021 Regular Week 1AlabamaMiami#14W44-13
2021 Postseason Week 1AlabamaGeorgia#1L18-33
2021 Postseason Week 1AlabamaCincinnati#4W27-6
2020 Regular Week 16AlabamaFlorida#11W52-46
2020 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#22W42-13
2020 Regular Week 7AlabamaGeorgia#3W41-24
2020 Regular Week 5AlabamaTexas A&M#13W52-24
2020 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOhio State#2W52-24
2020 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNotre Dame#5W31-14
2019 Regular Week 14AlabamaAuburn#16L45-48
2019 Regular Week 11AlabamaLSU#1L41-46
2019 Regular Week 7AlabamaTexas A&M#24W47-28
2019 Postseason Week 1AlabamaMichigan#18W35-16
2018 Regular Week 14AlabamaGeorgia#4W35-28
2018 Regular Week 11AlabamaMississippi State#18W24-0
2018 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#4W29-0
2018 Regular Week 4AlabamaTexas A&M#22W45-23
2018 Postseason Week 1AlabamaClemson#1L16-44
2018 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOklahoma#4W45-34
2017 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#6L14-26
2017 Regular Week 11AlabamaMississippi State#18W31-24
2017 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#19W24-10
2017 Regular Week 1AlabamaFlorida State#3W24-7
2017 Postseason Week 1AlabamaGeorgia#2W26-23
2017 Postseason Week 1AlabamaClemson#4W24-6
2016 Regular Week 14AlabamaFlorida#15W54-16
2016 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#16W30-12
2016 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#15W10-0
2016 Regular Week 8AlabamaTexas A&M#6W33-14
2016 Regular Week 7AlabamaTennessee#9W49-10
2016 Regular Week 6AlabamaArkansas#16W49-30
2016 Regular Week 3AlabamaOle Miss#19W48-43
2016 Postseason Week 1AlabamaClemson#1L31-35
2016 Postseason Week 1AlabamaWashington#4W24-7
2015 Regular Week 14AlabamaFlorida#18W29-15
2015 Regular Week 11AlabamaMississippi State#20W31-6
2015 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#4W30-16
2015 Regular Week 7AlabamaTexas A&M#9W41-23
2015 Regular Week 5AlabamaGeorgia#8W38-10
2015 Regular Week 3AlabamaOle Miss#15L37-43
2015 Postseason Week 1AlabamaClemson#2W45-40
2015 Postseason Week 1AlabamaMichigan State#6W38-0
2014 Regular Week 15AlabamaMissouri#14W42-13
2014 Regular Week 14AlabamaAuburn#15W55-44
2014 Regular Week 12AlabamaMississippi State#1W25-20
2014 Regular Week 11AlabamaLSU#14W20-13
2014 Regular Week 8AlabamaTexas A&M#21W59-0
2014 Regular Week 6AlabamaOle Miss#11L17-23
2014 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOhio State#1L35-42
2013 Regular Week 14AlabamaAuburn#4L28-34
2013 Regular Week 11AlabamaLSU#10W38-17
2013 Regular Week 5AlabamaOle Miss#21W25-0
2013 Regular Week 3AlabamaTexas A&M#6W49-42
2013 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOklahoma#6L31-45
2012 Regular Week 14AlabamaGeorgia#3W32-28
2012 Regular Week 11AlabamaTexas A&M#15L24-29
2012 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#5W21-17
2012 Regular Week 9AlabamaMississippi State#13W38-7
2012 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNotre Dame#4W42-14
2011 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#1L6-9
2011 Regular Week 5AlabamaFlorida#12W38-10
2011 Regular Week 4AlabamaArkansas#14W38-14
2011 Regular Week 2AlabamaPenn State#23W27-11
2011 Postseason Week 1AlabamaLSU#2W21-0
2010 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#2L27-28
2010 Regular Week 11AlabamaMississippi State#17W30-10
2010 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#12L21-24
2010 Regular Week 6AlabamaSouth Carolina#19L21-35
2010 Regular Week 5AlabamaFlorida#7W31-6
2010 Regular Week 4AlabamaArkansas#10W24-20
2010 Regular Week 2AlabamaPenn State#18W24-3
2010 Postseason Week 1AlabamaMichigan State#14W49-7
2009 Regular Week 14AlabamaFlorida#1W32-13
2009 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#9W24-15
2009 Regular Week 7AlabamaSouth Carolina#22W20-6
2009 Regular Week 6AlabamaOle Miss#20W22-3
2009 Postseason Week 1AlabamaTexas#2W37-21
2008 Regular Week 15AlabamaFlorida#2L20-31
2008 Regular Week 11AlabamaLSU#15W27-21
2008 Regular Week 5AlabamaGeorgia#3W41-30
2008 Regular Week 1AlabamaClemson#9W34-10
2008 Postseason Week 1AlabamaUtah#2L17-31
2007 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#25L10-17
2007 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#3L34-41
2007 Regular Week 8AlabamaTennessee#20W41-17
2007 Regular Week 4AlabamaGeorgia#22L23-26
2007 Regular Week 3AlabamaArkansas#16W41-38
2004 Regular Week 7LSUFlorida#12W24-21
2004 Regular Week 6LSUGeorgia#3L16-45
2004 Regular Week 4LSUAuburn#14L9-10
2004 Postseason Week 1LSUIowa#8L25-30
2003 Regular Week 16LSUGeorgia#5W34-13
2003 Regular Week 14LSUOle Miss#15W17-14
2003 Regular Week 10LSUAuburn#17W31-7
2003 Regular Week 5LSUGeorgia#7W17-10
2003 Postseason Week 1LSUOklahoma#3W21-14
2002 Regular Week 13LSUAlabama#10L0-31
2002 Regular Week 8LSUFlorida#16W36-7
2002 Regular Week 2LSUVirginia Tech#16L8-26
2002 Postseason Week 1LSUTexas#9L20-35
2001 Regular Week 16LSUTennessee#8W31-20
2001 Regular Week 15LSUAuburn#25W27-14
2001 Regular Week 14LSUArkansas#24W41-38
2001 Regular Week 7LSUFlorida#2L15-44
2001 Regular Week 6LSUTennessee#7L18-26
2001 Postseason Week 1LSUIllinois#7W47-34
2000 Regular Week 9LSUMississippi State#13W45-38
2000 Regular Week 7LSUFlorida#12L9-41
2000 Regular Week 6LSUTennessee#11W38-31
2000 Regular Week 4LSUAuburn#24L17-34
2000 Postseason Week 1LSUGeorgia Tech#17W28-14
1999 Regular Week 13Michigan StatePenn State#13W35-28
1999 Regular Week 11Michigan StateOhio State#20W23-7
1999 Regular Week 9Michigan StateWisconsin#17L10-40
1999 Regular Week 8Michigan StatePurdue#20L28-52
1999 Regular Week 7Michigan StateMichigan#3W34-31
1999 Regular Week 4Michigan StateNotre Dame#24W23-13
1999 Postseason Week 1Michigan StateFlorida#12W37-34
1998 Regular Week 14Michigan StatePenn State#22L28-51
1998 Regular Week 11Michigan StateOhio State#7W28-24
1998 Regular Week 5Michigan StateMichigan#25L17-29
1998 Regular Week 3Michigan StateNotre Dame#23W45-23
1998 Regular Week 2Michigan StateOregon#24L14-48
1998 Regular Week 1Michigan StateColorado State#15L16-23
1997 Regular Week 15Michigan StatePenn State#4W49-14
1997 Regular Week 12Michigan StatePurdue#23L21-22
1997 Regular Week 11Michigan StateOhio State#9L13-37
1997 Regular Week 10Michigan StateMichigan#5L7-23
1997 Postseason Week 1Michigan StateWashington#18L23-51
1996 Regular Week 14Michigan StatePenn State#7L29-32
1996 Regular Week 11Michigan StateMichigan#9L29-45
1996 Regular Week 3Michigan StateNebraska#1L14-55
1995 Regular Week 14Michigan StatePenn State#14L20-24
1995 Regular Week 11Michigan StateMichigan#7W28-25
1995 Regular Week 3Michigan StateNebraska#2L10-50

Tenure map

Each stint expands by seasons coached. Deeper color signals a stronger average SRS over that stretch.

Length = seasons coachedDeeper color = stronger stint

Alabama

2007-202317 seasons

Avg SRS 25.5 • Win % 87.7%

LSU

2000-20045 seasons

Avg SRS 13.9 • Win % 75.0%

Michigan State

1995-19995 seasons

Avg SRS 11.4 • Win % 58.5%

Toledo

1990-19901 seasons

Avg SRS -6.3 • Win % 81.8%

Longest tenure
Alabama • 17 seasons
Best tenure
Alabama • 25.5 SRS
Best tenure win rate
Alabama • 87.7%

Style and Strength Profile

Compare strength, identity, steadiness, and ceiling through normalized bars with raw SP and SRS context underneath.

These bars are normalized against the full coach dataset. Raw SP and SRS values stay visible so the profile reads as evidence, not decoration.

Overall Strength

Start with total quality before splitting style and variance.

Nick Saban sets the reference point in overall strength.

Overall Strength

Decisive edge

Nick Saban sets the reference point in overall strength.

Normalized score; raw SP overall stays underneath for reference.

Nick Saban

Elite

Raw avg SP Overall
24.1
Percentile
99th pct

Elite

Normalized against the full tracked coach pool.

Impact by school

See how each stint compared with what that program usually looked like outside that same span.

Alabama

2007-2023206-29

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS 25.5Win % 87.7%

Avg wins

Higher is better

12.1 during vs 7.2 baseline

+4.9

Avg SRS

Higher is better

25.5 during vs 10.2 baseline

+15.3

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

29.6 during vs 16.0 baseline

+13.6

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

88.2% during vs 100.0% baseline

-11.8%

LSU

2000-200448-16

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS 13.9Win % 75.0%

Avg wins

Higher is better

9.6 during vs 6.6 baseline

+3.0

Avg SRS

Higher is better

13.9 during vs 8.9 baseline

+5.0

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

19.2 during vs 10.7 baseline

+8.5

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

80.0% during vs 40.0% baseline

+40.0%

Michigan State

1995-199934-24-1

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS 11.4Win % 58.5%

Avg wins

Higher is better

6.8 during vs 5.4 baseline

+1.4

Avg SRS

Higher is better

11.4 during vs 4.6 baseline

+6.8

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

14.6 during vs 6.4 baseline

+8.2

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

20.0% during vs 20.0% baseline

+0.0%

Toledo

1990-19909-2

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS -6.3Win % 81.8%

Avg wins

Higher is better

9.0 during vs 5.2 baseline

+3.8

Avg SRS

Higher is better

-6.3 during vs -14.6 baseline

+8.3

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

2.4 during vs -7.9 baseline

+10.3

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

0.0% during vs 0.0% baseline

+0.0%

Career highs and lows

High Points

Best Season

Alabama 2016

14-1SRS 33.6

Biggest Improvement

LSU 2003

13-115.9 SRS

Best Offensive Season

Alabama 2018

14-1SP Off 50.9

Best Defensive Season

Alabama 2017

13-1SP Def 5.6

Setbacks

Worst Season

Toledo 1990

9-2SRS -6.3

Biggest Drop

LSU 2000

8-4-12.4 SRS

Season-by-season results

Full transparency into every season in the coaching record. Positive YoY values indicate improvement from the prior season.

Alabama202314122085.7%#4#519.623.136.815.6-1.7+1.1%
Alabama202213112084.6%#1#521.330.342.914.2+1.8-2.1%
Alabama202115132086.7%#1#219.526.040.915.6-11.6-13.3%
Alabama2020131300100.0%#3#131.128.346.818.6+2.3+15.4%
Alabama201913112084.6%#2#828.832.447.714.6-4.7-8.7%
Alabama201815141093.3%#133.536.350.914.2+7.2+0.5%
Alabama201714131092.9%#1#126.333.538.75.6-7.3-0.5%
Alabama201615141093.3%#1#233.631.740.08.6+6.30.0%
Alabama201515141093.3%#3#127.329.037.79.1+0.8+7.6%
Alabama201414122085.7%#2#426.534.344.510.7+1.1+1.1%
Alabama201313112084.6%#1#725.434.145.612.3-6.8-8.2%
Alabama201214131092.9%#2#132.236.545.710.7+1.7+0.5%
Alabama201113121092.3%#2#130.532.539.36.4+6.4+15.4%
Alabama201013103076.9%#1#1024.130.143.914.2-3.4-23.1%
Alabama2009141400100.0%#5#127.530.235.06.5+9.6+14.3%
Alabama200814122085.7%#24#617.923.034.210.9+9.6+31.9%
Alabama20071376053.8%8.312.830.117.2-6.0-21.1%
LSU20041293075.0%#4#1614.319.536.218.4-11.1-17.9%
LSU200314131092.9%#14#225.430.941.911.2+15.9+31.3%
LSU20021385061.5%#149.514.532.419.0-4.8-15.4%
LSU200113103076.9%#14#714.320.242.225.0+8.5+10.3%
LSU20001284066.7%#225.811.032.122.7-12.4-15.2%
Michigan State19991192081.8%#718.223.041.520.5+8.9+31.8%
Michigan State19981266050.0%#239.314.138.526.1-3.5-8.3%
Michigan State19971275058.3%#2512.816.636.621.8+2.5+8.3%
Michigan State19961266050.0%10.312.439.228.4+3.9-4.2%
Michigan State19951265154.2%6.46.934.629.5+12.7-27.7%
Toledo19901192081.8%-6.32.426.524.8

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