Nick Saban addresses involvement in coaching searches amid scrutiny of shared agent with Lane Kiffin
By David Wasson
Published:
One of the unique twists of last weekend’s Lane Kiffin Sweepstakes was Kiffin disclosing during Monday’s introductory news conference that he sought the advice of former LSU and Alabama coach Nick Saban before taking the job with LSU.
Speaking publicly about it Saturday for the first time since Kiffn’s controversial departure from Ole Miss to LSU, Saban discussed speaking with Kiffin – as well as any other coaches who may call him for career advice. College GameDay host Rece Davis opened the short segment clarifying that both Kiffin and Saban are represented by agent Jimmy Sexton, and that many on-set talent is represented by the same agency at which Sexton is employed – Creative Artist Agency.
Davis then teed up Saban to discuss the fact he receives several calls for advice from all facets of college football.
“I think I get a lot of calls because some people maybe view me as a senior professional that has a lot of experience in the game after 50 years – 25 years as a head coach,” Saban said. “So as a person, as a human being, you want to help everybody you can. I’m kinda in this for the betterment of the game, really for the payers. And coaches impact players. Administrators impact players.
“So anyone who calls me, whether it is a player or a coach or an administrator, I try to do the best I can to give them the best information to make the best decisions for the betterment of the game. The first thing I ask a coach, if he is contemplating changing jobs, is ‘What do you want to do?’ want them to follow their heart, and I never tell anyone what to do. I just try to bring some thought into it so they can make a good decision for themselves, their family and their future.”
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
