Kirby Smart has always had the greatest degree of admiration for Nick Saban, and this has not changed even after Saban retired from Alabama at the beginning of January 2024. Saban, who served at Alabama for 17 years, built an indelible impact that extends not only to the number of victories but also to coaches such as Smart.

With the football guarantee coupled with life advisory, Smart continues to refer to the help Saban has been to the career at Georgia. Their bond has gone from a mentor-student relationship to a rivalry built on mutual respect. In a YouTube interview, Kirby Smart shared his experience and talked about how his mentor is still guiding him, even after Nick Saban’s retirement. Although they are no longer coaching as team-mates on the field, the bond between the two professionals has not weakened – Smart still seeks advice in various aspects of his life, football and personal from Saban. Smart stated that Saban’s impact did not end during their tenure in Alabama and that he still consults Saban from time to time. “He’s Been a Great Resource”, Smart added.

Smart even bluntly admits that Saban’s influence hasn’t lessened with the latter’s retirement from coaching, “Whether it’s financial advice or football advice or trying to help the sport of college football he certainly he’s been beneficial to a lot of coaches I know.” 

Nick Saban’s retirement and Kirby Smart’s rise

Saban, during his coaching career, guided Alabama to six national championships. To honor their greatest coach, Alabama has named the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium the “Saban Field”. Nick Saban had a lot of success at the University of Alabama, compiling a 201-29 record and making Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium one of the most famous places in college football. Saban and his wife, Terry, also remain as active in charity as before through the Nick’s Kids Foundation, which has to date garnered $12 million for children’s causes after Saban arrived at Alabama.

Saban’s student, Kirby Smart, who is just starting his journey of creating his dynasty in Georgia, has also often spoken about the mentor’s love for football and work ethic, which have contributed to making the Georgia Bulldogs one of the best teams in the country today. Finally, it can be concluded that both Kirby and Saban have shifted the paradigm. There is no denying that the stadiums that heard about their victories and the football memorabilia that are imbibed about their journeys are tied together. Every championship ring, every trophy, every game – you’ll see them here, and they spell the story of two men who are now in the pantheon of greats as coaches. And that is why their friendship is very unique. They aren’t rivals; they both are legends.