Alabama signs Nick Saban to new 8-Year, $93.6 million contract

The Alabama Crimson Tide has signed head coach Nick Saban to an eight-year, $9.36 million contract. The 70-year-old Saban will remain in charge of the Alabama Crimson Tide until at least February 28, 2030.

On Tuesday, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees compensation approved the new one-year contract extension. The new contract averages $11.7 million per year, more than Kirby Smart's deal with the rival Georgia Bulldogs at $11.25 million, signed in July.

"Our family is very happy to agree to a contract extension with The University of Alabama," Saban said. “Terry and I are very appreciative of the unmatched commitment the University has shown to this football program and our family over the last 15-plus years. This is our home, and we look forward to finishing our career at Alabama.”

In his coaching career, Saban has won seven national championships. He is the only coach who has won national championships from two different schools. Only Paul William Bryant and Saban have won two Southeastern Conference championships at different schools.

Alabama has only played the final three regular-season games of the 2010 season. The Crimson Tide has made an appearance in seven of the first eight College Football Playoffs and has won three CFP championships.

The program has not competed in the national championship since Saban's second season.

Throughout the legendary coach’s tenure, 54 total players of UA have won 62 first-team All-America honors. Since 2009, the Crimson Tide also has had 113 players selected in the NFL Draft, including 41 first-round picks. Those players are the best in the nation during that time. Alabama also had a school-record six players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

This season, the Crimson Tide outperformed the national average for Football Bowl Subdivision teams by a program record of 28 points with an Academic Progress Rate of 997. In the statistics released in December of last year, Alabama also reported a Graduation Success Rate of 86, placing the Crimson Tide in the top four in the Southeastern Conference for the thirteenth consecutive year.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have the best football coach in the nation and one of the greatest coaches of all time, regardless of sport, here at Alabama in coach Saban,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “Not only have his teams been successful on the field, but they have also achieved greatly in the classroom and community."

Saban as highest-paid coach

The new contract makes Saban the highest-paid head coach in the college football scene. He will earn a salary and talent fee of around $9.9 million this year, excluding $400,000 in annual raises. He also can get an $800,00 completion bonus at the end of February in each of the next four years, along with many other bonuses.

Now in his 16th season with Alabama, Saban led the Crimson Tide to a record of 183-25, eight Southeastern Conference championships, and six national titles. Since 1936, no school has won more than 183 games in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Saban has been active in the community in addition to his success on the field. Since moving to Tuscaloosa in 2007, Saban and his wife, Terry, have raised around $11 million for charity through their Nick's Kids Foundation.

"Nick and Terry Saban are pillars of our community and we are grateful their impact and legacy at the Capstone will only continue to grow," said University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell.