Nick Saban might have stepped away from the gridiron, but that didn’t mean he was never going to get back to a similar kind of action. The 74-year-old exchanged the green of the football field for the blisteringly cold ice hockey rink in his latest entrepreneurial move.

Saban now holds a minority stake in the NHL’s Nashville Predators, along with his business partner, Joe Agresti. The Alabama legend shared his thoughts on becoming part of the franchise through this interesting venture.

“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” he shared on X. “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 been an avid fan of the Preds and has also stepped in as a guest mentor during a camp this summer. The Predators have become a wild card of sorts in recent years, emerging as one of the few strong teams from the South. The team has also competed in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017. With Saban joining in, things can start looking really good for the Preds.

In April of this year, Saban and Agresti’s joint venture, Dream Motor Group, had hauled in a whopping $2.2 billion in revenue. The duo, making use of the momentum, were able to on-board former Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon as a partner too. This new unit had begun looking for avenues for investing in sports, Agresti told the media. 7 months on, Dream Sports LLC can now check that off its to-do list. It was long expected that Saban would move to an avenue higher than CFB, like coaching or pulling a similar business move in the NFL. But the NHL is a far easier space for a decision like this, where the stakes are low.

Saban will also be working together with former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam, who controls the majority stake in the team. Interestingly, Saban was also rumored to take up a job with the Browns after Alabama because of an already existing dynamic with Bill’s brother, Jimmy Haslam.

Nick Saban continues to be a busy man even after he’s hung up his coaching whistle. This venture marks his first ever foray into the sports ownership industry. He can add one more title to his list, which, of course, includes a pretty promising career as a media personality on College GameDay. Everything seems to be swell for the former HC, who might have taken the right decision at the right time.

Nick Saban retired from coaching for a reason, says David Pollack

When Nick Saban stepped down as the Tide’s head coach in 2023, the vibe in college football was different. He left the sidelines having created the biggest name in the sport, cementing its legacy as a blueblood for good. But during the tail end of his career, the circumstances around him changed. Saban’s dislike for the portal and NIL dominance was a reason behind his retirement. Not everyone can manage the two, which are extremely important to run a program now. David Pollack figured that Saban left at the right time, in light of Mark Stoops‘ dismissal from Kentucky.

“There’s a reason Nick Saban got out,” he said on the See Ball Get Ball podcast on December 1. “This is a different world. It’s not just good enough to be a good college football coach anymore. Like, you have to know and be a general manager, and you have to know how to talk to people and handle different situations and agents.”

Saban has long advocated against the influence that NIL now has over college football players. He is right to some extent, but the norm has now shifted to the players having the final say. The former HC used to prefer the tried and tested method of recruiting fresh talent from high school and building them into formidable talents. He admitted in 2023 that Alabama chose to treat the portal like the NFL’s free agency, only going after a player if there is a need for them on the team. The Tide had only 5 transfers that year, and more than 25 fresh recruits. Bad talent management in the NIL era eventually came for Stoops’ job at Kentucky.

Top Stories

Cam Newton Makes NFL Return Conditions Clear to 32 Teams as Panthers Legend Confirms Retirement Stance

Caitlin Clark Shows Concerning Signs vs. Kelsey Plum During USA Camp Debut, per National Reporter

Tom Brady Makes Career Announcement for Vegas as Pete Carroll Addresses Losing Raiders Locker Room

“RIP”: Prayers Pour In as Tom Brady’s Raiders Struck by Tragedy

“NFL Was Crying”: Maxx Crosby Says League Forced Him to Remove Shoes Honoring His Daughter

“Rest in Peace”: Prayers Pour In From Dan Marino as Dolphins Legend Mourns Tragedy in South Florida Football

Instead of what could have been a really disappointing end for Saban, he chose to walk out on a good note. Alabama had become a little shaky towards the end of his tenure, but his thoughts about the current era of football had simply become outdated. Now, the veteran coach can look back on his work with pride, while also getting to dip his toes in some new waters.