Nick Saban is continuing to reinvent himself in the aftermath of his legendary college football coaching career.
First, it was branching out into broadcasting as an ESPN college football analyst. But now, Saban has decided to enter another sports world entirely, albeit in a familiar place for him. Saban, who controls Dream Sports Ventures LLC with Joe Agresti, recently finished the purchase of a minority stake in the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
Yes, the 7-time national championship college football coach who won 6 titles at Alabama and 1 at LSU before that is trying his hand at hockey now. Predators franchise chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam announced Nick Saban‘s newly purchased minority stake in his franchise on Tuesday afternoon. Saban and partner Agresti will become a piece of the Predators’ ownership pie that is made up mostly of team season-ticket holders and residents of the Nashville area.
Saban released this statement on Tuesday proclaiming the excitement surrounding his new sports venture:
Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports. Being involved in a sports team in Nashville has always been a goal and the opportunity to partner in the Predators with a class act like Bill Haslam created the perfect scenario for us. The Preds are a great organization with a fantastic brand, and we are excited to be part of the future success of the franchise.
Saban has partnered with Agresti in many business ventures, including Dream Motor Group, which has turned into 1 of the most successful dealer groups in the southeastern part of the United States.
Now, the legend who made his name in Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa will have a sports presence in Nashville, yet another SEC city that’s home to Vanderbilt. But this time, that presence won’t involve college football. It’ll be his new world of professional hockey.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
