Nick Saban signs contract extension to remain Alabama coach through 2028 season
By John Buhler
Nick Saban’s contract extension will keep the Alabama football coach in Tuscaloosa for at least eight more seasons and ends when he’ll be 77-years-old.
As he is about to turn 70-years-old, Nick Saban has made it sure he will only coach the Alabama football team going forward, signing a three-year extension to keep him in Tuscaloosa through the 2028 campaign.
“Terry and I are pleased and happy to sign another contract extension that will keep us in Tuscaloosa through the end of our career,” said Saban in a statement Monday. “Our family calls Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama home, it’s a place where our roots now run deep.”
“This agreement gives us the chance to continue to impact the lives of the young men and their families who choose to play football and get an education at Alabama. We want to thank the Board of Trustees, Chancellor St. John, President Bell, Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, our athletics administration, the football staff and the whole University community for their support.”
2021 will be Saban’s 15th season in Tuscaloosa, having returned to the SEC in 2007 after a forgettable two-year run leading the NFL‘s Miami Dolphins. Since returning to the SEC, Saban has transformed Alabama back into being college football’s preeminent program. He has won six national championships the last 14 years, getting Alabama its first three Heisman Trophy winners.
Much to the rest of the SEC’s chagrin, it does not look like Saban will be retiring any time soon.
Alabama football: Nick Saban signs contract extension through 2028 season
Saban’s previous contract had him tied to Alabama through 2025. Now, he will get $8.425 in base salary beginning this year with an undisclosed annual increase throughout it. He will also receive an $800,000 contract completion bonus annually after the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons. Saban will turn 77-years-old on Halloween on the last year of this new contract.
Prior to this extension, many people had speculated Saban would retire within a few years to go pursue a less-demanding career as a college football analyst on television. While we all know he would thrive in that role, his passion clearly lies in coaching, recruiting and developing the lives of young men. Without debate, Saban has earned every penny of this new contract he has procured.
Alabama fans are getting eight more years of Saban, or that is the plan for the Crimson Tide now.
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