West Virginia Native Nick Saban’s Road to the College Football Hall of Fame

Football fans across the country already recognize West Virginia native Nick Saban as one of the greatest coaches to ever do it. On Wednesday, the College Football Hall of Fame put his legendary status on paper.

Saban joined Troy’s Larry Blakeney, Northwestern College’s Larry Korver, and the legendary Urban Meyer in the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class on Wednesday. The four coaches will be inducted alongside 18 former players on Dec. 9 of this year.

Born in Fairmont, Saban traveled out of state to Ohio for college, where he played defensive back at Kent State from 1970 to 1972. It was at Kent State where he quickly transitioned into his historic coaching career, serving as a graduate assistant for two years before becoming a defensive assistant until 1976.

After a single year on Syracuse’s staff, Saban secured his WVU ties, coaching the Mountaineers’ secondary from 1978 to 1979.

For the next decade, Saban jumped around college football and the AFL as an assistant in different capacities. Toledo took a chance on Saban as head coach in 1990. In one year as head coach, Saban made the Rockets Mid-American Conference champions with a 9-2 overall record.

Entering his year at Toledo, fellow 2025 inductee Urban Meyer called Saban’s wife asking to get on his staff. Saban never followed up with Meyer, but the two became inseparable in legacy soon after.

Following time with the Cleveland Browns and Michigan State, Saban became head coach at Louisiana State University, where he would coach the Tigers to SEC titles in 2001 and 2003 and their second ever national title in 2003 alongside offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

Saban made a return to professional football in 2005 following his 48-16 record in five seasons at LSU. In two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Saban coached a 15-17 record before signing on for eight seasons at Alabama.

Eight seasons became 17 at Alabama, where Saban cemented his name in history, winning nine more SEC titles and six more national titles.

With a final career record of 292-71-1 across college football, including a 201-29 record with the Crimson Tide, Nick Saban is one of the most accomplished men in college football. With university ties and West Virginia blood, the historic figure stays around the game through ESPN’s College GameDay alongside fellow WVU legend Pat McAfee.

WVU recognized Saban as a Mountaineer in tandem with his Hall of Fame announcement on X. Saban joins former Mountaineer running back Steve Slaton in the 2025 induction class.

Photo from @WVUFootball on X