Nick Saban won’t be head coach of Alabama football forever. Even the greats have to retire eventually. Who will replace him when he does?
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban will have to retire at some point in his life. Saban, who was born in 1951, has said he doesn’t want to coach in his 70’s. That means he would coach through the 2021 season as his Halloween birthday (of course) falls in the middle of a season as he would turn seventy.
Saban has nothing left to prove in his career having won national titles at both LSU and Alabama. The man has six rings altogether. Saban has overcome a multitude of coaching staff changes and keeps on winning whether in the BCS or the College Football Playoff systems.
Once the legendary Saban rides off into the sunset and a statue is erect in front of Bryant–Denny Stadium the Tuscaloosa locals will pray before it prior to every home game. Now the task or replacing a legend will make or break the athletic director and administration at Alabama. The boosters and fans will not settle for anything less than being a top five program after being spoiled since Saban led the Crimson Tide to the Sugar Bowl in a twelve win 2008 season.
While names like Dabo Swinney and Kirby Smart will lead the way; Justin Fuente, Will Muschamp, and Jeremy Pruitt could make a claim for the job as well. Muschamp continues to improve the South Carolina Gamecocks and Pruitt is set up for success at Tennessee. Both could throw their name into the hat. Fuente has already had success at Virginia Tech and if the Hokies are able to win an ACC title he can prove he has what it takes to contend.
Swinney would have to leave his secure position at Clemson which is a risk, but he is alumni and a former Alabama national champion player from the 1992 season. Smart has pushed Georgia further than Mark Richt ever did but will he leave Athens for Tuscaloosa? Replacing a legend is a huge risk and some of these main players may not want to take that on.
There’s always the possibility that none of those men want to follow a coaching legend. If that’s the case, who will take over for Nick Saban when he’s done at Alabama? Here are five lesser known names that could be in play.