Nick Saban is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. His impressive list of accomplishments, which includes seven national championships and countless SEC titles, has solidified his legacy as a coaching legend. However, even the most successful individuals often have moments in their careers they look back on with a sense of regret or reflection. Recently, Saban opened up about one particular regret he has from his career — specifically, his departure from LSU after leading the Tigers to a national championship in 2003.
In an honest and introspective interview, Saban shared what he considers his biggest regret during his career, shedding light on his emotions and decisions surrounding that pivotal moment. For many, this revelation might come as a surprise, considering Saban’s storied success and his subsequent reign as the head coach at Alabama. But for Saban, it’s a testament to his commitment to his craft, his players, and the programs he’s been a part of.
### The LSU Departure: A Defining Moment
Before Saban became a household name as the head coach of Alabama, he was the head coach at LSU, where he found significant success in just a few short years. When he took the reins in Baton Rouge in 2000, LSU had just come off a 4-7 season. Under his leadership, the Tigers quickly turned things around, finishing his first season with a 8-4 record. By 2003, Saban had taken LSU to the pinnacle of college football, winning the BCS National Championship after defeating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
The championship win was monumental for both LSU and Saban’s career. It cemented his reputation as one of the top coaches in the game, and many believed he was destined to lead LSU to further dominance in the coming years. But just two years after that triumph, Saban made a decision that would change the trajectory of his career — and the course of college football history.
In 2004, after just five seasons at LSU, Saban left Baton Rouge to become the head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The decision shocked many, considering the success Saban had achieved at LSU and the potential to continue building a championship-contending program. Saban’s departure was seen as a bold move into the NFL, but it also left a sour taste in the mouths of many LSU fans, who had grown attached to their head coach and believed he was just getting started.
In hindsight, Saban has openly reflected on this decision, acknowledging that leaving LSU in the manner he did is a source of regret for him.
### The ‘Regret’ That Still Lingers
In a candid moment, Saban explained the regret he feels about his decision to leave LSU when he did. “If there’s one thing I wish I could go back and change, it’s how I left LSU,” Saban revealed. “I really did love my time there, and I think we were building something that could’ve been very special for the long term. But I made a decision that, looking back, I wish I had handled differently.”
Saban’s admission reveals a human side of the coach that many fans, and even analysts, might not expect. For someone who’s known for his meticulous planning, tireless work ethic, and unwavering focus on success, it’s interesting to hear Saban reflect on a decision that wasn’t made with the same level of calculated precision he typically applies to his football teams.
“Leaving LSU in the way I did, without being fully transparent about the reasons behind it, I think I could’ve handled it better. I think it would’ve been better for the players, the fans, and the program,” Saban continued. “I was still a young coach at that time, trying to figure out what I really wanted in my career. I didn’t fully understand how important those relationships were to the people I was leaving behind.”
Saban’s regret isn’t about leaving LSU for the NFL per se — it’s about the way he did it. The sudden nature of his departure, coupled with the lack of clarity regarding his reasons, left many people in Baton Rouge feeling betrayed. As someone who has always emphasized the importance of commitment and loyalty, Saban acknowledges that his exit from LSU didn’t reflect those values.
### Lessons Learned: The Importance of Communication
Looking back, Saban admits that he could have communicated more effectively with his players, the LSU community, and even the media about his departure. The secrecy surrounding his decision to leave for the NFL, combined with the unexpected nature of his exit, led to a period of confusion and bitterness for many LSU fans.
In his later years as a coach at Alabama, Saban has made it a point to be more transparent with his players and staff, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and honest relationships. This lesson in managing expectations and communicating effectively is something he wishes he had implemented during his departure from LSU.
“One of the things that I’ve learned over the years is that no matter how difficult a decision may be, it’s important to have the conversation,” Saban explained. “You don’t want people to feel like they’re in the dark or that they were part of some decision that didn’t include them. It’s a lesson that I’ve tried to apply in every aspect of my coaching career after that.”
This shift in Saban’s approach to leadership, especially during his time at Alabama, has contributed to his ability to build lasting relationships with players, recruits, and even fans. He’s known for his meticulous approach to developing young men both on and off the field, and part of that development involves honest, open communication about expectations, goals, and decisions.
### What Could Have Been at LSU
The “what could have been” scenario is something Saban occasionally reflects on, especially in light of the success that LSU has achieved in recent years. Since his departure, LSU has won two additional national championships (in 2007 and 2019) and consistently competed at a high level within the SEC. However, Saban has never expressed any ill will towards LSU. In fact, he has always spoken highly of the program, its fans, and the players he had the privilege of coaching during his tenure.
“I have so much respect for LSU and what they’ve done since I left,” Saban said. “It’s an incredible program, and I think the world of the players and coaches who have been a part of it. But there’s always a part of me that wonders what might have happened if I had stayed and kept building on what we started there.”
While Saban’s legacy at LSU is undeniably important, his decision to move to the NFL and later to Alabama led to even greater success. His time with the Miami Dolphins was marked by mixed results, but his return to college football at Alabama in 2007 revolutionized the game. Under Saban’s leadership, Alabama has become the gold standard in college football, dominating the SEC and winning national championships year after year.
### A Legacy That Continues to Evolve
Nick Saban’s regret over his departure from LSU may be a small chapter in an otherwise illustrious career, but it’s one that speaks to his growth as a coach and a person. His transparency about this moment in his career offers a glimpse into his constant pursuit of self-improvement, both on and off the field. While Saban’s career has been marked by triumphs and titles, it’s clear that he continues to reflect, learn, and evolve.
In many ways, the lessons Saban learned from his time at LSU — and from his subsequent regrets — have made him a better coach. The man who left Baton Rouge in 2004 has evolved into the coach who has shaped the future of college football, all the while learning from the past and staying grounded in the values that first brought him success.
Looking ahead, Saban’s legacy continues to grow, but the story of his time at LSU and the regret he carries from that departure will always be a part of the larger narrative of his extraordinary career.