Nick Saban reveals his biggest insecurity in sit-down interview
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
Alabama coach Nick Saban seems larger than life. With two wins to begin the 2019 season, he’s moved into the Top 10 on the all-time FBS coaching wins list and is tied for the most championships with six.
But even Saban has insecurities. He shared a couple of them during a sit-down interview as part of a video series with The Athletic.
The purpose of the series was for The Athletic to document Alabama’s 2019 preseason routine, but in the final 30 minutes, Saban opens up to interviewer Arman Keteyian, especially when he mentions the fact Alabama’s other coaching legend, Bear Bryant, died just weeks after retiring from coaching.
“There’s a lot of things that I’d like to do,” Saban said to The Athletic. “What would I enjoy doing? What would I like to do? I have no idea. You’re kind of fearful of the fact that … what if I’m not self-fulfilled and I still had years left to do this?
“Hey, we all have insecurities. When I was a kid, I used to close the closet door in my room because there’s a monster in your closet, you know that. So, you never know what’s behind the door. That’s always a little scary. I think it’s the same thing like you’re talking about with Coach Bryant. I feel the same way.”
It’s hard to remember a time where Saban was more forthright with a reporter. But despite his doubts about the future, Saban still doesn’t sound like a coach that’s going to be done very soon.
“Coaching is not a job,” he said. “It’s a way of life and as long as I feel like I have the energy to do it, which I do, I’m excited about having the opportunity.”
If Saban continues to reach double-digit wins every year, he will move to sixth on the all-time wins list by the end of the 2020 season. He also needs one more national title to go ahead of Bryant for the most championships by one head coach.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
