Former University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban is getting off the sidelines and into the broadcast booth.
Saban, who announced his retirement from coaching last month, is joining ESPN.
The longtime coach, who won seven national titles, the most in college football history, will primarily work as an analyst on the network's popular College GameDay program, ESPN's parent company The Walt Disney Company said in a statement Wednesday. He'll also contribute to the network's coverage of the NFL Draft and do appearances related to Southeastern Conference Media Days, including on the company's dedicated SEC Network.
“ESPN and College GameDay have played such an important role in the growth of college football, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to join their team,” Saban said in the statement released by Disney. “I’ll do my best to offer additional insights and perspectives to contribute to College GameDay, the ultimate Saturday tradition for college football fans.”
"Nick Saban is a singular, iconic presence in college football," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro added. "He is also an extremely gifted communicator, who will immediately add even more credibility, authority and entertainment value to ESPN, including our esteemed College GameDay show."
More details will be announced at a later date, the company said, including his first assignment for the network.
Saban, 72, played defensive back for Kent State University before becoming a graduate assistant coach. His coaching career took him across the country, from Syracuse University to West Virginia, Ohio State to Navy before he had his first stint in the NFL as an assistant coach for the Houston Oilers. His first head coaching job was for the University of Toledo in 1989 before becoming defensive coordinator for the NFL's Cleveland Browns under then-coach Bill Belichick for four years, a period he referred to as "the worst of my life."
Saban returned to the college game at one of his previous places of employment, Michigan State University, where he reversed the team's fortunes before heading to Louisiana State University, where he won his first national title in 2003. He left the team in 2004 to coach the NFL's Miami Dolphins, leading the team for two seasons -- including his first losing season as a head coach in 2006 -- before accepting the head coaching position at the University of Alabama.
Prior to Saban joining the Crimson Tide, the program hadn't won a title in 15 years. Saban would go on to win six in 17 seasons at the helm, as well as nine SEC championships, and posted a 201-29 record with the program. He coached four Heisman Trophy winners, and his coaching tree includes multiple NFL and college football head coaches, including Brian Daboll of the New York Giants, Billy Napier of the University of Florida and Steve Sarkisian of the University of Texas at Austin.
His record as a college head coach is 292-71-1, including 12 conference championships and 19 bowl games. In 28 years as a college head coach, he never had a losing season.