Nick Saban's coaching tree on full display at Media Days
HOOVER, ALA.—Nick Saban’s is going into his 15th year coaching in the SEC. He’s had pit stops at LSU and Alabama, picking up five national titles, nine trips to the SEC Title game with six championships.
And with success come the spoils. Not just for him, but for his assistants.
Of the 13 other head coaches coming to Hoover for SEC Media Days, three have coached—and won national titles—under Saban: Jim McElwain at Florida, Kirby Smart at Georgia and South Carolina’s own Will Muschamp.
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Muschamp and McElwain have spent time as head coaches in the SEC, both at Florida. They’ve combined for 38 wins, 24 of which came in the SEC. Smart’s the only one who hasn’t been a head coach yet.
“There's a lot of excitement for me because these guys have opportunities and we want to see them do extremely well and the opportunities that they have,” Saban said. “I think it reflects favorably on our program and what we've done, and those guys all did a fantastic job for us.”
Along with the head coaches, his assistants are highly sought after parts of another head coach’s staff. The Tide’s strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman took the same under Muschamp in Columbia.
And Alabama’s Eddie Jackson had some complimentary words about his former coach, and some warnings about what Gamecock players can expect from him.
“He’s going to be going 24-7: from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to sleep, he’s going to motivate you,” the linebacker said. “He’s not going to turn down.”
It seems like Alabama has a revolving door of award-winning coaches; from the three head coaches in the SEC to now Lane Kiffin and others currently in Tuscaloosa. With coaches coming and going, players have to adapt to new schemes and leadership styles.
They’ll have to do it again this year after losing Smart and Dillman, but the players understand that and know the business of college football.
And based on last year’s national title and Alabama’s success in recent years going through staff changes, it most likely won’t be a problem.
“You always want guys to move on. I’m happy for those guys,” O.J. Howard said. “They’re always part of our family and we support their decision.”
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