Thursday, November 5, 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

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

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.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Miami’s High-Priced QB Loses Top Target Before Notre Dame Clash

Mensah leads college football in multiple passing categories.

Cody Campbell’s Texas Tech Board Seat in Jeopardy After Elections

Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa could replace Texas university board members.
Apr 12, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; The Florida State Seminoles logo before the start of the spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State’s Coach Search Puts Roster Budget in Focus

Portal planning is already underway ahead of the Jan. 4 window.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/5/26 – Owners’ $100M Midterm Miss, College Sports Bill’s Uncertain Future, Peyton Tops ‘MNF’ List

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.

New York Liberty Fire Chris DeMarco After One Year

The Liberty were swept by the Dream in the semifinals.
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 31, 2026 Jason Stacy, coach of Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during her women's singles final against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina
September 8, 2026

Tennis Coaches Have Become a Hot New Billboard At the US Open

Tennis coaches are often shown on the broadcast from the player’s box.
October 12, 2026

Dan Quinn’s Job Security in Doubt After Commanders Clock Fiasco

Will firing come later, if not sooner?
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
August 18, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka’s Coach Recalls Sacrifices on Road to $50M Career

Her coaches still shared hotels even when she cracked the top 10.
Nov 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy watches play against the Utah Mammoth during the third period at Delta Center.
May 29, 2026

Former Golden Knights Coach Cassidy: ‘I Want to Go to Work’

The former Stanley Cup winner says the current restriction is “upsetting.”
May 22, 2026

Close’s New UCLA Contract Has Discounted WNBA Buyout Clause

Close has been the UCLA women’s basketball head coach since 2011.
Sponsored

Volpe Brings Style to the Bronx

With the New York Yankees & Anthony Volpe, Charles Tyrwhitt is bringing its decades-long playbook to one of sports’ biggest stages.