Be a champion – that was the motto of the 2003 LSU football program and a direct reflection of its coach Nick Saban, said LSU defensive end Marcus Spears.
“Coach tells us that all the time,” Spears said. “In every aspect you want to be a champion. That’s what people admire and that’s what people look for. And that’s the good things you do in life to be a champion and it’s about doing good things so that’s what he stresses.”
Saban has never had a losing season in 10 years as a head coach at Toledo, Michigan State and now LSU with an 80-39-1 record and the 2001 Southeastern Conference championship. But the big picture is what matters most to Saban, not just football, Spears said.
“Coach is really a player’s coach,” Spears said. “It really matters to him as you develop into a man, equally as a good football player and I think that’s why guys believe in him and believe in his system because he stresses that he cares about the future after football and things like that and helping guys maintain success after they leave college.”
LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert said Saban stresses education, which is important in the development of players.
“We’ve talked a great deal about education,” Emmert said. “He looks at his student-athletes not only as football players but as people. His approach to student-athletes was one of the qualities that was most attractive to me when we were hiring him – trying to develop our players into well-rounded people.”
Spears said he also knows Saban as a family man because he, along with Michael Clayton, frequent the Saban residence often to go fishing.
“He’s a good family man when he’s at home,” Spears said. “I don’t think he gets to spend a lot of time at home as he would like, but I know Mrs. Terry, his wife. [We] are real close and she’s great. The kids are great. I love the whole family … Mrs. Terry has been [a coach’s wife] for a long time and she really understands what kind of a coach he is and in order for us to have the success we’re having he has to be dedicated to it.”
Saban said he spent time with his son on the golf course this past Saturday instead of watching other games that impacted the chances of LSU making a significant leap in the Bowl Championship Series rankings.
“To be honest with you, my son’s playing golf right now and he wanted to hit golf balls, so I missed a little bit of these games because I went and spent an hour with him,” Saban said.
LSU Athletics Director Skip Bertman said Saban does work long hours and he does not get to spend much time with his family. But when Saban gets to work, he goes to work, Bertman said.
“They go right to work and then they work right up until the time that they can’t work and then they leave,” Bertman said. “It’s very important because you’ve got to get home and spend the quality time and he does quality time when he’s home, he does quality time in between games or offseason. He’s got it all planned out because he knows that everything counts.”
The public usually sees Saban’s rough exterior from his meetings with the media but Bertman said Saban has a softer side.
“He doesn’t have a lot of time and I wish people could have a greater chance to see him when there’s more time to relax in the offseason,” Bertman said. “He’s a funny guy, a good man. He loves it here. His wife likes it and his family likes it, which of course is very important when you’re coaching.”
Emmert agreed, saying that Saban is easygoing in his spare time.
“He enjoys the same things we like,” Emmert said. “He likes watching movies, not shaving and cutting down trees in the backyard.”
Bertman said Saban is a great coach and man because he is hardworking, intuitive and flexible.
“Everything that he does counts and matters,” Bertman said. “He’s got to be a good father, got to be a good husband. He’s in church when he’s supposed to be and yet he doesn’t proselytize or have everybody want to be like him. He just wants to make sure that he can run the team with the passion he likes.
“He’s probably the best football coach I’ve ever seen. But maybe the best coach of any sport in terms of total concept.”
Saban credits his hard work ethic to previous coaches he worked for. He started his career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Kent State in 1975. He also had stints in the college ranks at Syracuse, West Virginia, Ohio State, Navy and Michigan State until 1987. Saban also coached with the NFL’s Houston Oilers and Cleveland Browns.
“I think every mentor – whether it’s George Perles at Michigan State when I was a defensive coordinator or Earl Hoops at Ohio State whoever it’s been Don James who was my college coach and who I worked for first – all those people have an impact on how you think and what you believe,” Saban said.
Bill Belichick is now the head coach of the New England Patriots, but he was Saban’s mentor, while he was in Cleveland.
“Bill certainly sold me on the fact that it’s important to be big and physical as a team, to be well organized in how you prepare for and approach a game,” Saban said.