• Loading stock data...
Saturday, May 3, 2025

Coaches Aren’t Happy With College Football—Some Are Getting Out While They Can

  • Nick Saban is one of many coaches fed up with the state of college football.
  • Coaches are fleeing to the NFL or taking on lower positions within the college game.
Nick Saban
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Saban gave a fiery interview to ESPN about the current landscape of college football and why he wants to fix it.

“What we have now is not college football—not college football as we know it,” the retired former Alabama coach told his new company.

Saban criticized name, image, and likeness collectives, which he argued have “nothing to do” with NIL, and constant roster turnover caused by the transfer portal. He said he supports players earning their fair share but wants to help players prepare for their future after football instead of just trying to make as much money as they can in college, and he wants to be part of the solution somehow.

Saban is speaking to a wider trend of college coaches fed up with the new age of college football, with many taking steps during the offseason to get out of it.

As ESPN’s Adam Schefter put it on X (formerly Twitter): “A trend that has emerged this winter: many college coaches are tired of the transfer portal, the NIL money and the new NCAA world—and prefer to work in the NFL. Many college coaches already have left; many more want to.”

More than 25 FBS assistant coaches have fled to the NFL this year, and more than 40% of them took on a smaller job title, per CBS Sports. Some, like Kiel McDonald (USC running backs coach reportedly heading to the Los Angeles Chargers), are choosing the same job title in the NFL over a more significant role in college sports.

Two head coaches have left college football for the NFL this offseason. Jim Harbaugh turned down being the highest-paid coach in college football when he departed Michigan for the Chargers, and Jeff Hafley reduced his title from head coach at Boston College to become defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers with three years left on his contract. Harbaugh has been vocal in supporting revenue-sharing and athlete unionization, a different but significant example of coaches’ disapproval of the current college football system.

Many coaches are also taking smaller positions within college sports. In one extreme case, Jerry Kill, the head coach at New Mexico State, left to become a consultant at Vanderbilt and told CBS Sports he’s “living the dream” because he enjoys country music and doesn’t need to raise money for NIL. Others taking lesser positions within college football include Chip Kelly, forgoing his head coaching job at UCLA to become Ryan Day’s offensive coordinator at Ohio State, as well as multiple Group of 5 head coaches.

It’s not uncommon for college coaches to move up to the NFL, retire, or take a smaller role at a bigger team. But the number of coaches getting out of college football and what they say about the system on their way out, hints at a larger problem.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sovereignty Wins Kentucky Derby, $3.1M Purse

The total purse was raised to $5 million last year.

Roundball Rock Will Return to NBC Alongside NBA Media Rights

The song will highlight NBC’s return to hoops coverage next season.
Front Office Sports
exclusive

Jayson Werth: Winning Belmont Stakes ‘Comparable’ Emotions to World Series

Werth spoke to FOS at Churchill Downs about the race day high.
Apr 13, 2025; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) during driver introductions for the NASCAR Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Champ Buys Into Ohio Racetrack

Blaney won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2023.

Featured Today

Mint juelps

Inside the 120,000-Cup Mint Julep Frenzy of Kentucky Derby Weekend

The official cocktail at Churchill Downs costs $22—or $5,000.
May 1, 2025

How Larry Collmus Became the Longest-Running Kentucky Derby Caller

Collmus will call his 15th straight Derby on NBC.
Apr 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium
April 30, 2025

The Pirates Are Struggling, But Paul Skenes Fever Is Still Spreading

The 22-year-old pitcher is (finally) giving Pittsburgh something to cheer for.
April 29, 2025

How DJ Adam Amin Mixes Baseball With Bangers

Amin is one of Fox’s top NFL and MLB voices.
April 28, 2025

Quinn Ewers Bet on NFL Over NIL—and Left Millions on the Table

The Dolphins picked Ewers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Shaquille O'Neal
April 28, 2025

Shaq Taking GM Role at Sacramento State

The news comes amid the school’s push for FBS status.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Portfolio Players is our bi-weekly spotlight on the athletes and investors reshaping the business of sports. This week, venture capitalist Kai Cunningham unpacks why athletes land top deals and how the usual investing rules don’t always apply.
Mar 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) dribbles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half during a Midwest Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
April 25, 2025

College Sports Has Become a Billion-Dollar Business. Kentucky Is Embracing It

Kentucky said its LLC would operate similarly to two hospitals run by the university.
Ole Miss
April 24, 2025

Coach Yo: Women’s College Hoops Are ‘Pay for Play’

Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin built a top transfer class this offseason.
Jan 21, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark speaks during the CFP National Championship Host Committee handoff press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom.
April 24, 2025

CFP Meetings End With No Major Changes to 12-Team Playoff—for Now

For now, the complicated seeding process will remain in place.
April 24, 2025

The House Settlement Is in Jeopardy. Here’s What It Will Take to..

The parties will try to salvage the settlement over the next two weeks.