Sports Illustrated has been compiling a special list of athletes and coaches who have excelled in college football over the last quarter-century, and in one of these analyses, it named Nick Saban the best college football coach of those 25 years.
Nick Saban began his career with the LSU Tigers, working there from 2000 to 2004, winning one national title, and then with the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he worked from 2007 to 2023, achieving six national titles. With seven national titles, he is the most successful coach in college football history.
In the midst of this work, he had a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins, between 2005 and 2006, going 9-7 in his first year and 6-10 in his second. He failed to lead the franchise to the playoffs on any occasion.
According to Sports Illustrated, Nick Saban's selection was unanimous, as he stood out from his peers. He was a tactical genius and organizational wizard, as well as a great recruiter.
Saban also knew how to build his defenses very well, with Alabama allowing 8.2 points per game in 2011, the lowest in the league since 1988.