Nick Saban Elected into Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame
3/15/2024 3:33:00 PM | Football, General, The Golden Flashes Club
CLEVELAND- Varsity K Hall of Famer (2015) and two-time Kent State graduate Nick Saban ('73, '75) will be inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame as a member of the 2024 class.
A seven-time National Coach of the Year and seven-time national champion, Saban compiled a 217-63-1 (.775) record in his historic coaching career. A winner at every stop in his collegiate coaching career, Saban served as the head coach at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama, winning national titles at both SEC institutions.
A member of the historic Don James' coaching tree, Saban got his coaching start at Kent State after playing football and baseball for the Golden Flashes from 1970-72. He was a safety on the Flashes' 1972 MAC Champion team that took on the University of Tampa in the Tangerine Bowl. In 1973, his first season as a graduate assistant and defensive coach, the Flashes posted the best record in program history at 9-2.
"His unparalleled contributions to the world of college football, both as a player and as a coach, have left an indelible mark on the sport and exemplify the values of excellence, perseverance, and leadership that our institution honors," Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Randale L. Richmond said.
The first coach to win back-to-back BCS national championships, Saban got his first full-time coaching gig at Kent State coaching linebackers. He coached fellow Kent State Hall of Famer Jack Lazor to All-America honors. After stops at Syracuse, West Virginia, Ohio State, Navy, and Michigan State, he got his first head coaching job at Toledo in 1990. In his one season with the Rockets, he led Toledo to a 9-2 record and a share of the MAC title.
Saban got his first "power-5" head coaching job at Michigan State in 1995 after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 1991-94. He turned around the Spartans, taking Michigan State to bowl games in each of his first three seasons. In his final season at Michigan State in 1999, the Spartans went 10-2 and finished seventh in the final polls.
He was named the 31st head coach at LSU in 1999 and in his five seasons in Baton Rouge, the Tigers never won fewer than eight games. In 2003, the Tigers went 13-1 and defeated Oklahoma 21-14 in the BCS Championship game. After a nine-win season in 2004, Saban left LSU to coach the Miami Dolphins.
Following the 2006 NFL season, Saban left Miami to take over the Alabama Crimson Tide. He immidately helped turn around the historic program, leading them to a victory in the Independence Bowl. The 2007 campaign was the only season under Saban in which the Crimson Tide did not win at least 10 games. In 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Alabama won 201 games including 13 bowl games and six national championships.
 Away from football, Saban and his wife Terry started the Nick's Kids Foundation, while at Michigan State. The foundation which they have continued in Tuscaloosa, does considerable work for disadvantaged children. Since Nick and Terry arrived in Tuscaloosa, nearly $6 million has been distributed to students, teachers, and children's causes at over 150 charities through the Foundation. In June of 2008, the Sabans announced a $1 million gift to benefit Alabama's first-generation scholarship program. The gift has a special meaning to the Sabans, as both Nick and Terry were first-generation graduates.
Saban and his wife, the former Terry Constable, have two children, Nicholas and Kristen. They have been married for 44 years and are enjoying the company of their granddaughter, Amélie, a daughter-in-law Kelsé and son-in-law Adam Setas.
Saban will be joined by five other inductees to the conference hall of fame, Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois – Football), Curt Miller (Bowling Green– Women's Basketball Head Coach), Sarah Obras (Ball State – Volleyball), Jessica Simpson (Miami – Softball) and Frank Solich (Ohio – Football Head Coach). The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame ceremony will be Thursday, May 30th at the Mariott Key Tower in Cleveland.
