If you need further evidence regarding just how commanding of a presence Kobe Bryant was in life, even Nick Saban and Bill Belichick were impressed with the former NBA superstar.

Following Bryant’s tragic passing, Nick Saban released this statement on the news:

“The world lost a truly special person today. Our hearts go out to Kobe’s family, friends and all who loved him as both a basketball player and a person. Kobe was one of the greatest to ever play the game, but what truly separated him was his competitive spirit and unmatched work ethic. When Kobe spoke to our team, he talked about how he went to work knowing perfect was unattainable but put everything into closing the gap on perfect every day. This is an unbelievably said day. He leaves a tremendous legacy for all who knew and loved him.”

Belichick also released a statement:

“This is an extremely sad time for the entire sports community. In my 45 years in the NFL, I have never witnessed a group as captivated as the day Kobe addressed our team. The respect and reverence he commanded far exceeded him being a legendary player. He was a special person with an unmatched passion, intensity and mentality toward achieving his goals.”

Clearly, Kobe’s appearance speaking to each program made an impact with the coaches, something that was again referenced in a recently released clip from the HBO documentary “Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching.”

Arguably the two greatest coaches in modern sports history shared their thoughts on what stood out following Bryant’s appearances speaking to their teams.