Nick Saban

Nick Lou Saban (born October 31, 1951 in Fairmont, West Virginia is the head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins. Prior to holding that position, he was the head coach of LSU's football team. Under his leadership in the 2003 season, LSU won the BCS National Championship and Saban was selected the NCAA's Coach of the Year. On 25 December 2004, he accepted the head coaching position of the Dolphins.

Previous NFL Experience and Career at LSU

Saban previously made stops in the NFL as a defensive assistant under Bill Belichick in Cleveland and Jerry Glanville in Houston. From 1995 to 1999, Saban was the head coach at Michigan State University. Frustrated by MSU's permanent status as the number two university in the state (behind the University of Michigan), Saban accepted the head job at Louisiana State University in 1999. This caused quite a stir among Michigan State fans, many of whom came to believe Saban placed money over loyalty to his employer.

Saban arrived at LSU as the school was in the midst of a two year long slide from contention in the Southeastern Conference. In 1999, LSU went 3-8, the school's eighth losing season in the previous eleven years. Once a dominant power in college football, LSU had become a coach's nightmare. Saban's four immediate predecessors were all dismissed after failing to live up to expectations.

In his inaugural season, Saban's team went 8-4, including a come from behind win in the Peach Bowl against heavily favored Georgia Tech. Although LSU did not win the SEC West, the quick turnaround gave rise to a wave of optimism, which only continued to build the following season.

As LSU fans became familiar with Saban, they observed a coach who presided over his squad with great intensity. Saban rarely seemed satisfied, and routinely berated officials and players on the sideline. His behavior approached the boundary of acceptable conduct without ever crossing it, however, and served to motivate his team to new heights. Saban is known as a complete football coach: he is as good an administrator as he is a teacher.

In 2001, LSU won the SEC West and represented the division in the conference championship game for the first time. After a 31-20 upset of favored Tennessee, LSU played in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, and defeated yet another favorite, the University of Illinois. Saban's popularity in the state grew immensely as a result of LSU's magical season. In the offseason, Saban published a memoir about LSU's turnaround, which flew off bookstore shelves across Louisiana.

The 2002 squad was beset by injuries, going 8-5 with a loss in the Cotton Bowl to the Texas Longhorns. However, the following year, LSU fans were treated to a national championship after a 45 year wait. The 2003 LSU Tigers suffered only one loss, an uninspired 19-7 loss to the Florida Gators. Led by QB Matt Mauck, WR Michael Clayton, and RB Justin Vincent, the Tigers mauled Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and secured an invitation to play for the national championship.

LSU faced the University of Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, a controversial matchup because the USC Trojans, possessors of the # 1 ranking in the AP poll, were excluded by the computer which determined the matchup for the BCS National Championship Game. Few disputed that LSU belonged in the game. Many observers of college football, however, were outraged that Oklahoma was invited to play for the national championship just weeks after being humiliated by Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game. A USC defeat of Michigan in the Rose Bowl virtually ensured a split national title regardless of who won the Sugar Bowl.

In the Sugar Bowl, Saban matched up with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, also one of the game's most highly respected coaches. In this game, however, LSU led from the start, and threatened to break open the game several times. Although Oklahoma succeeded in narrowing the gap somewhat, LSU defeated the Sooners 21-14. As the scoreboard clock struck 0:00, Saban streaked to midfield amidst his players. Perhaps the single most vivid image of that day was Saban holding aloft the ADT National Championship Trophy as the vast LSU contingent at the Superdome went wild. The city of New Orleans partied that night as if several Mardi Gras celebrations were taking place at once.

Shortly after the conclusion of the season, Saban was approached by the Chicago Bears about their head coaching position. The Bears offer was not Saban's first opportunity to return to the NFL. In the past, several teams, including the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts, had all gauged Saban's interest. LSU fans had to come to revere Nick Saban in almost divine terms, which comes as little surprise when you consider that LSU Football is almost its own religion in south Louisiana. The perhaps overzealous fans breathed a sigh of relief when Saban called a press conference in January of 2004 to announce that he was staying at LSU.

The Tigers posted a 9-3 record in 2004, including an appearance in the Capital One Bowl. Saban began to feel during this season that there were few remaining challenges for him in the college game. Nick Saban accepted the job of Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day, 2004.

Despite early-season troubles and inconsistent quarterback play, the Dolphins finished 9-7 in Saban's first year as head coach. The team was aided by the return of running back Ricky Williams, who sat out the 2004 season and who was suspended for the first four games of 2005. Although the Dolphins missed the playoffs, they did finish the season on a six-game winning streak, which inlcuded a 28-26 victory over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the season finale.

External links

• Official Web Page of Nick Saban