Friday, May 8, 2026

Nick Saban To Make $500K Annually in Alabama Advisory Role

  • Saban also joined ESPN as an analyst after retiring.
  • Multiple Hall of Fame coaches accepted similar gigs to Saban’s upon retirement.
Dec 30, 2023; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban during Rose Bowl media day at Rose Bowl Stadium.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Saban won’t be on Alabama’s sidelines this season, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the school’s payroll. 

In a post-retirement advisory role, the legendary coach will make $500,000 a year from the program he led to six national championships. The news was first reported by the Tuscaloosa News, which obtained the information through a public records request. Saban will make $41,666 a month off 40-hour work weeks. 

Saban retired after the 2023 season, his 17th season at Alabama, in which he turned the Crimson Tide into a juggernaut. At the time of his retirement, Saban was making over $9 million per season, but the base salary was just over $300,000 because of the contract’s structure. 

Shortly after retiring, Saban joined ESPN as a college football analyst and participated in the network’s NFL draft coverage. He will be part of the College GameDay crew in the fall, too.  He also appeared on Capitol Hill in March as part of a roundtable discussion with senators about the current landscape in college sports. 

Saban is far from the first coach to continue collecting checks after retiring from the school he led to glory. Former college basketball coaches Jay Wright (Villanova) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) are among the fellow legends to take ambassador roles with the university immediately upon retiring. Krzyzewski made nearly $9 million from Duke in 2023, a year after he retired from coaching the Blue Devils.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Referee Carl Cheffers signals a penalty during the Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Orchard Park on Jan. 22.

NFL and Refs Ratify New 7-Year CBA

The seven-year deal eliminates the need for replacement officials.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell holds a Terrible Towel during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.

All Eyes on Networks, Streamers as NFL Readies Schedule Release

The highly anticipated slate will drop on Thursday.

Ex-Ohio University Football Coach Sues School Over Firing

Smith admitted to having a romantic relationship with an undergraduate.
exclusive

What Illinois’s $20M Jumbotron Says About the Future of CFB Stadiums

Illinois installed the largest video display in college football in January.

Featured Today

Matt Palumb

Pro Lacrosse’s Top Ref Is As Famous As the Players

The last celebrity referee is in the Premier Lacrosse League.
May 2, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Saba Lobjanidze (11) reacts to his goal against the CF Montréal in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit
May 7, 2026

How Atlanta Unexpectedly Became the Epicenter of U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer is opening a new national HQ in Georgia.
Tottenham Hotspur
May 6, 2026

Tottenham Hotspur Is Facing a Billion-Dollar Disaster

A seemingly improbable drop to England’s second tier is a tangible possibility.
Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Final - Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Punjab Kings - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India - June 4, 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Indian Premier League
May 5, 2026

How Private Equity Fell in Love With Indian Cricket

India’s U.S.-style cricket league has become a private-equity playground.
Sponsored

How Thrivent and Athletes for Hope Are Leading With Purpose

Meet those making a difference as Thrivent and Athletes for Hope spotlight community impact.
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Giants coach John Harbaugh speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
March 30, 2026

Amid Team Ownership in Flux, Harbaugh Aims for Normalcy

The newly hired head coach eyes a Bears-type turnaround.
April 14, 2026

Javier Mascherano Leaves Messi, Miami in Shock Departure

Mascherano won the MLS Cup in his first season last year.
Sponsored

What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?

Dave Checketts on his time running the Knicks & Jazz, Jordan war stories, and his investment strategy across major sports leagues.
March 5, 2026

Mark DeRosa Is Still Baseball’s Swiss Army Knife

DeRosa is the sport’s utility player both on the field and off.
Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium.
January 28, 2026

Belichick’s HOF Snub Puts Voting Process Under Scrutiny

Belichick will not be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Nov 15, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore on the sidelines against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field.
December 10, 2025

Michigan Fires Sherrone Moore Following Misconduct Investigation

Moore had just finished his second season as Wolverines head coach.
Nov 22, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Terry Smith is congratulated by athletic director Pat Kraft following the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Beaver Stadium.
December 4, 2025

Penn State Still in Coach Limbo Months After Franklin Firing

“There’s definitely a sense of urgency to wrap this up.”