CFP semifinal coaches share favorite memories from working with Nick Saban
By Jacob Moss
Published:
Nick Saban’s legacy has manifested in many different ways following his retirement, but his expansive list of former assistants-turned-head coaches is perhaps the greatest testament to the greatness of the former head coach at Alabama.
Saban’s “coaching tree” has garnered some immense praise over the years, and the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinals is the ultimate personification of his elite ability to foster young coaches into some of the game’s best and brightest.
Each of the teams that found their way to the CFP semifinals has a former Saban assistant leading the way, and they all sat down with ESPN’s College GameDay to talk about their favorite memories from working under the GOAT, and how he shaped each of their respective careers.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning said that his favorite memory from working with Nick Saban was actually getting cussed out by his former boss while running a bag drill at a kid’s camp, while Indiana’s Curt Cignetti jokingly said that he’s never been chewed out by Saban.
Ole Miss’ Pete Golding recounted a hilarious story where he and Steve Sarkisian had to hide from Saban at the golf course when they were supposed to be at work, and Miami’s Mario Cristobal talked about how Saban’s attention to detail molded him as a coach.
Each of these coaches’ careers was molded by Saban in one way or another, and now they’ll be facing off with a trip to the National Championship game on the line, with their former boss watching on.
