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Saban: The Making of a Coach
In the tradition of When Pride Still Mattered, Paterno, and Joe DiMaggio: The Hero’s Life—the definitive biography of Nick Saban, the influential and controversial University of Alabama football coach who not only transformed college football, but might be the best ever at winning.
As the head coach of the University of Alabama’s football team, Nick Saban is perhaps the most influential—and controversial—man in the sport. Unpredictable in his professional loyalties, uncompromising in his vision, and unyielding in his pursuit of perfection, the highest-paid coach in college football has changed the face of the game. His program-building vision has delivered packed stadiums, rabid fans, legions of detractors, countless NFL draft picks, and a total of four national championships, including three in the last five years. Monte Burke’s Saban—the first definitive biography of the man who has come to epitomize the game—presents this towering figure with a never-before seen human depth.
Though a great deal is known about Nick Saban the coach, not much is known about Nick Saban the man. Little is written about his early climb through the coaching ranks as an assistant in college and in the NFL, or his head-coaching stints at Michigan State and Louisiana State and his struggles as a pro coach with the Miami Dolphins. Through unprecedented interviews with more than 250 friends, coworkers, rivals, former players, and others, Burke reveals the defining moments of the coach’s life, including:
-The beginning of his recruiting career at age ten as he walked door to door with his demanding father gathering players for a Pop Warner football team.
-A team meeting that deterred his plans to attend a student rally at Kent State that would later make history.
-His rapid and at times rocky ascent up the assistant coaching ranks.
-His complicated relationship with one of his coaching mentors, Bill Belichick.
-The birth of his now-famous “Process” and the unlikely man who became its co-architect.
-His dramatic and controversial departures from three different high-profile football teams.
-The building of championship programs at Louisiana State and Alabama.
Saban paints a portrait of a complex and compelling man, fundamentally shaped by both his past and the game he loves, in a way that no previous book has.
As the head coach of the University of Alabama’s football team, Nick Saban is perhaps the most influential—and controversial—man in the sport. Unpredictable in his professional loyalties, uncompromising in his vision, and unyielding in his pursuit of perfection, the highest-paid coach in college football has changed the face of the game. His program-building vision has delivered packed stadiums, rabid fans, legions of detractors, countless NFL draft picks, and a total of four national championships, including three in the last five years. Monte Burke’s Saban—the first definitive biography of the man who has come to epitomize the game—presents this towering figure with a never-before seen human depth.
Though a great deal is known about Nick Saban the coach, not much is known about Nick Saban the man. Little is written about his early climb through the coaching ranks as an assistant in college and in the NFL, or his head-coaching stints at Michigan State and Louisiana State and his struggles as a pro coach with the Miami Dolphins. Through unprecedented interviews with more than 250 friends, coworkers, rivals, former players, and others, Burke reveals the defining moments of the coach’s life, including:
-The beginning of his recruiting career at age ten as he walked door to door with his demanding father gathering players for a Pop Warner football team.
-A team meeting that deterred his plans to attend a student rally at Kent State that would later make history.
-His rapid and at times rocky ascent up the assistant coaching ranks.
-His complicated relationship with one of his coaching mentors, Bill Belichick.
-The birth of his now-famous “Process” and the unlikely man who became its co-architect.
-His dramatic and controversial departures from three different high-profile football teams.
-The building of championship programs at Louisiana State and Alabama.
Saban paints a portrait of a complex and compelling man, fundamentally shaped by both his past and the game he loves, in a way that no previous book has.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2015
64 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 7, 2021
I haven't even finished the book but I love it already. Nick is one of my idols and his work ethic is second to none. I will often find myself listening to his speeches or looking at his quotes whenever I feel like I don't want to do something. A particular favorite quote I look at every single day is "Motivation runs out, staying committed to your work every day lasts forever". It may seem so simple and obvious but it truly is true to being successful. There will be times where I don't feel like recording a video, doing my school work, working on my business, improving myself as a person. But I remember that looking for a source of motivation won't cut it. Eventually, it'll run out and I'll be looking for another temporary source. Being great is always pushing yourself, even when you don't want to. Nick's pursuit for an impossible-to-achieve-perfection got him out the West Virginia mines and made him the toast of the Sports world. What he was able to accomplish and is continuing to do so as HC at Alabama University isn't something anyone else can't physically do. It was his mental drive that got him to this position now and that's what I try to emulate in my life. The pursuit for excellence even though its impossible to achieve. I'm going to end my review here because I'm probably rambling and its almost 4 am but I just wanted to show my appreciation for Nick Saban and his influence in my life.
August 6, 2015
I've never read any books about football, football coaches, or programs in general. The only two I have ever been interested enough in have been Alabama and Auburn, and my entire life I've grown up with the history and news around those programs. I feel like I already know more than I want to, so why do I need to read a book? But when this popped up on NetGalley I immediately requested it and was hyped when I got approved.
Coach Saban came onto my radar when he was at LSU (Hardmode: SEC West), but I didn't really pay a ton of attention to him until he became Bama's coach back in 2007. Being on campus during the last of the Shula years was rough, so when Coach Saban and Miss Terry arrived there was an amazing atmosphere. And the subsequent recruiting classes were combed over like crazy. I was literally in a class where the teacher interrupted to give us the news when Julio Jones was signed.
Hype was real.
I said all that to say that I have seen so many pre/during/post-game mini-docs on Coach Saban and his past that I did indeed know a lot of it. As a lot of Bama fans likely will. Most of the information in this book was not new to me, but there were a few points that surprised me. Like how involved Miss Terry has been in his career decisions. That woman is amazing! Or the fact that he was a student on campus when the Kent State shooting happened. I had completely forgotten that he was the coach that convinced Ricky Williams to come back to the NFL. And I didn't know much about his time at the Spartans so that was very interesting to read about.
There were a few spots where I felt the writing suffered. For the most part this is written with an unbiased journalistic eye, but there were a few spots where he became overly editorial in his descriptions of people. Uncomfortably close to name-calling, honestly. Also, in the epilogue I didn't feel like we needed five pages of comparisons between Coach Saban and Coach Bryant. I honestly got the gist of it and just skipped to the end of that segment.
All in all, this was an interesting read, even though most of it was going over information that I was already pretty familiar with. Worth it as a casual read to a Bama fan but I don't know that many people who don't already love him would be as interested since it is basically just a detailed breakdown of his resume with a little bit of his life thrown in.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!
Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Coach Saban came onto my radar when he was at LSU (Hardmode: SEC West), but I didn't really pay a ton of attention to him until he became Bama's coach back in 2007. Being on campus during the last of the Shula years was rough, so when Coach Saban and Miss Terry arrived there was an amazing atmosphere. And the subsequent recruiting classes were combed over like crazy. I was literally in a class where the teacher interrupted to give us the news when Julio Jones was signed.
Hype was real.
I said all that to say that I have seen so many pre/during/post-game mini-docs on Coach Saban and his past that I did indeed know a lot of it. As a lot of Bama fans likely will. Most of the information in this book was not new to me, but there were a few points that surprised me. Like how involved Miss Terry has been in his career decisions. That woman is amazing! Or the fact that he was a student on campus when the Kent State shooting happened. I had completely forgotten that he was the coach that convinced Ricky Williams to come back to the NFL. And I didn't know much about his time at the Spartans so that was very interesting to read about.
There were a few spots where I felt the writing suffered. For the most part this is written with an unbiased journalistic eye, but there were a few spots where he became overly editorial in his descriptions of people. Uncomfortably close to name-calling, honestly. Also, in the epilogue I didn't feel like we needed five pages of comparisons between Coach Saban and Coach Bryant. I honestly got the gist of it and just skipped to the end of that segment.
All in all, this was an interesting read, even though most of it was going over information that I was already pretty familiar with. Worth it as a casual read to a Bama fan but I don't know that many people who don't already love him would be as interested since it is basically just a detailed breakdown of his resume with a little bit of his life thrown in.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!
Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 17, 2018
Though I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it, Saban is a fascinating figure to me. The first-hand accounts in this book suggest he's every bit the aloof jerk he's made out to be. And yet he consistently gets the most out of his coaches and players, often pushing them to grow in ways they never imagined possible. So while I wouldn't take my cues from him as a husband, father, or general human being, I do think there are some valuable leadership lessons to be learned from his process-oriented approach to developing people.
July 9, 2015
Thanks to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for review.
First and foremost I am a Bama fan, then a college football fan, and then a Saban fan. So I was excited that a new book is being released about this legend.
My excitement was a little watered down after realizing that the author had no intention of writing a flattering bio. Saban has done more as a college football coach than anyone in the last 8 years. He has won more games, won more championships, recruited more top rated recruits, and sent more players to the NFL. The author criticizes Saban's work ethic, and paycheck, but as a fan, Saban has properly represented the University of Alabama and college football.
There is information in the book that will allow you to learn more about Saban that isn't painted in a negative light. This is a good book if you like college football.
First and foremost I am a Bama fan, then a college football fan, and then a Saban fan. So I was excited that a new book is being released about this legend.
My excitement was a little watered down after realizing that the author had no intention of writing a flattering bio. Saban has done more as a college football coach than anyone in the last 8 years. He has won more games, won more championships, recruited more top rated recruits, and sent more players to the NFL. The author criticizes Saban's work ethic, and paycheck, but as a fan, Saban has properly represented the University of Alabama and college football.
There is information in the book that will allow you to learn more about Saban that isn't painted in a negative light. This is a good book if you like college football.
July 14, 2024
A detailed description of Nick Sabans life and why he is the way he is. The first 100 pages I found very interesting, but for whatever reason the rest of the book wasn’t grabbing me. Nick Saban will always be the goat and no coach will surpass him for chips.
May 18, 2017
Geez I hate Bama, but you can't dispute this guy's success. Great unauthorized biography. The man is beast.
February 8, 2024
Great read about a great coach and a great man. I learned a lot about Saban and his tenure in college football. Enjoyable, even if you aren't a Bama fan. Roll Tide!
October 20, 2020
This is a recap I wrote about this book when I originally read it back in 2017.
Seeking out long-form work about a subject I generally dislike isn't really my normal bag. Nick Saban, the head coach of the University of Alabama's football team, is an exception to this usual rule for only one main reason -- he seems like a total lunatic at surface level. His celebrity presence as college football's most successful coach has driven media and fanbases across the country to adopt a pretty agreed-upon stance on him, and that stance is generally that he appears to be an asshole.
Saban's success and seeming lack of happiness to accompany that success is what stands about most about him from a bird's-eye perspective. People always repeat the same things -- he doesn't smile, he wins the national championship then gets right to work recruiting, he doesn't take any vacations, doesn't spend as much time as he should with his family, he's too hard-nosed and businesslike for the college game, which is rife with tradition and character.
Saban: The Making of A Coach, by Monte Burke, sheds a ton of light on how Saban ticks. For me, the book was especially illuminating in two fashions. It takes a deep dive into Saban's relationship with his father, Big Nick, and the circumstances of his upbringing in a coal mining town in West Virginia, and it also fully explains the evolution of his "Process," which he brought to life with the help of a psychology professor at Michigan State University.
Big Nick stands out as the figure in Saban's life who influenced his worldview the most. He was an extremely demanding father, expecting a high level of performance from his son in all aspects of life, both on and off the football field. Saban's hometown of Monongah, West Virginia, is a coal mining town near Fairmont, WV, and about 90 miles south of Pittsburgh -- it's pretty much a Midwestern town in the middle of nowhere. Big Nick's intentions were for his son to avoid a life in the mines, so he consistently demanded excellence in school and instilled a high level of work ethic in his son to prepare him to live up to these expectations.
On the football field, Big Nick founded a Pop Warner team that Saban played on, learning the QB position as the smartest player on the field (in terms of football IQ) and playing defensive back as well. He took these skills and found success at the high school level as well before finding a scholarship to play at Kent State. Big Nick passed away not long after Saban graduated from Kent State, when he was getting his start coaching college football at his alma mater. It becomes clear, throughout Burke's story, that Saban consistently longed for the approval of others in the same way he sought his father's approval. This seems at odds with the amount of success this man has had -- it's remarkable how much he felt unappreciated while at Michigan State or Louisiana State as a head coach, even after he found success in establishing a culture at those programs. Specifically at LSU, he constantly complained that the fanbase would consider a three-loss season a total failure; even after decades of futility, the LSU fans were spoiled by Saban's quick turning of the team and success in the SEC, as he won a national championship in his fourth season.
That sense of feeling under-appreciated, along with short previous stints in the NFL, led Saban to coach the Miami Dolphins for two seasons. His short-lived tenure there provides the best example of his (then-recurrent) inability to stay happy at one place. He jumped ship to get back to college football with Alabama, which is the first head coaching job he's ever held for more than the five years he spent at LSU.
Saban's move from Miami to Alabama also brings to light another huge influence in his life -- his wife, Terry. At every job he's had, Terry has helped Saban in countless ways; she's a business advisor, a partner in their charity foundation, and at the college level, she plays the "coach's wife" role in a large and pretty badass way, holding successful fund-raisers and serving as a point of contact for those seeking the ear of her husband. It becomes clear that to get to Nick, you have to go through Terry at some point, and it is obvious that she was a large reason why the Sabans relocated to Tuscaloosa to rescue Crimson Tide football.
The portion of the book that I found most interesting, and the subject where I'll seek further reading, is in regards to Saban's "Process." This refers to culture he builds around his program, and the phrase "Trust the Process" is one often quoted by 'Bama fans. At its core, the Process is all about reducing large, complicated goals into easier-to-digest, bite-sized tasks. It's essentially a management style that Saban has applied, if you consider him the CEO of Alabama football. Taken literally in application to a game, Saban tells his players not to worry about the final outcome, or even about the scoreboard at the time: Their eyes are always set on winning the down of football in front of them. This, theoretically, enables players to shine by relieving them of the pressures that often accompany big-time college football, and it's shown to be very successful. This is what prompts his perceived lack of happiness upon winning a title: It's clear Saban finds his joy in the details of day-to-day coaching and management, rather than the glory at the end of the season when they win a championship.
Saban developed his Process with the help of Lionel Rosen, a psychology and psychiatry professor at Michigan State, where Saban held his second head coaching job between 1995 and 1999. At the time, Saban was still largely unproven -- his hype and reputation still exceeded his actual results. But implementing this style of thinking helped him turn around the football program at MSU, which has always struggled to compete with Ohio State, Michigan, and the other top-tier Big Ten teams; though he left the team sooner than most expected, he certainly left it in a better state than it was when he arrived.
Accompanying his Process as another equally large contributor to his success as a coach is Saban's unbelievable recruiting acumen. His ability to identify prospects and get them to play for his school is pretty much unparalleled; Alabama has had the No. 1 recruiting class in college football for the last seven years in a row. Only Urban Meyer at Ohio State seems to be a peer in recruiting prowess, and the same Process that he applies to coaching is applied by Saban on the recruiting trail. This is a subject where Burke's insider access (not directly to Saban, but to many around him) comes in handy; the first-hand accounts of his tenaciousness on the recruiting front will be super interesting for college football fans who follow that aspect of the sport. Saban is also especially aware of how important this is to his success -- when he was hired by Alabama, he told athletic director Mal Moore that he hadn't hired the best coach in the country, but he had hired the best recruiter.
Burke's work is fast-paced, detailed and intriguing at just about every turn. If you're the type of person generally interested in reading books about successful people, this should rank right up there amongst your Silicon Valley CEO types as one to take into consideration, and its appeal to college football fans is straightforward enough.
Seeking out long-form work about a subject I generally dislike isn't really my normal bag. Nick Saban, the head coach of the University of Alabama's football team, is an exception to this usual rule for only one main reason -- he seems like a total lunatic at surface level. His celebrity presence as college football's most successful coach has driven media and fanbases across the country to adopt a pretty agreed-upon stance on him, and that stance is generally that he appears to be an asshole.
Saban's success and seeming lack of happiness to accompany that success is what stands about most about him from a bird's-eye perspective. People always repeat the same things -- he doesn't smile, he wins the national championship then gets right to work recruiting, he doesn't take any vacations, doesn't spend as much time as he should with his family, he's too hard-nosed and businesslike for the college game, which is rife with tradition and character.
Saban: The Making of A Coach, by Monte Burke, sheds a ton of light on how Saban ticks. For me, the book was especially illuminating in two fashions. It takes a deep dive into Saban's relationship with his father, Big Nick, and the circumstances of his upbringing in a coal mining town in West Virginia, and it also fully explains the evolution of his "Process," which he brought to life with the help of a psychology professor at Michigan State University.
Big Nick stands out as the figure in Saban's life who influenced his worldview the most. He was an extremely demanding father, expecting a high level of performance from his son in all aspects of life, both on and off the football field. Saban's hometown of Monongah, West Virginia, is a coal mining town near Fairmont, WV, and about 90 miles south of Pittsburgh -- it's pretty much a Midwestern town in the middle of nowhere. Big Nick's intentions were for his son to avoid a life in the mines, so he consistently demanded excellence in school and instilled a high level of work ethic in his son to prepare him to live up to these expectations.
On the football field, Big Nick founded a Pop Warner team that Saban played on, learning the QB position as the smartest player on the field (in terms of football IQ) and playing defensive back as well. He took these skills and found success at the high school level as well before finding a scholarship to play at Kent State. Big Nick passed away not long after Saban graduated from Kent State, when he was getting his start coaching college football at his alma mater. It becomes clear, throughout Burke's story, that Saban consistently longed for the approval of others in the same way he sought his father's approval. This seems at odds with the amount of success this man has had -- it's remarkable how much he felt unappreciated while at Michigan State or Louisiana State as a head coach, even after he found success in establishing a culture at those programs. Specifically at LSU, he constantly complained that the fanbase would consider a three-loss season a total failure; even after decades of futility, the LSU fans were spoiled by Saban's quick turning of the team and success in the SEC, as he won a national championship in his fourth season.
That sense of feeling under-appreciated, along with short previous stints in the NFL, led Saban to coach the Miami Dolphins for two seasons. His short-lived tenure there provides the best example of his (then-recurrent) inability to stay happy at one place. He jumped ship to get back to college football with Alabama, which is the first head coaching job he's ever held for more than the five years he spent at LSU.
Saban's move from Miami to Alabama also brings to light another huge influence in his life -- his wife, Terry. At every job he's had, Terry has helped Saban in countless ways; she's a business advisor, a partner in their charity foundation, and at the college level, she plays the "coach's wife" role in a large and pretty badass way, holding successful fund-raisers and serving as a point of contact for those seeking the ear of her husband. It becomes clear that to get to Nick, you have to go through Terry at some point, and it is obvious that she was a large reason why the Sabans relocated to Tuscaloosa to rescue Crimson Tide football.
The portion of the book that I found most interesting, and the subject where I'll seek further reading, is in regards to Saban's "Process." This refers to culture he builds around his program, and the phrase "Trust the Process" is one often quoted by 'Bama fans. At its core, the Process is all about reducing large, complicated goals into easier-to-digest, bite-sized tasks. It's essentially a management style that Saban has applied, if you consider him the CEO of Alabama football. Taken literally in application to a game, Saban tells his players not to worry about the final outcome, or even about the scoreboard at the time: Their eyes are always set on winning the down of football in front of them. This, theoretically, enables players to shine by relieving them of the pressures that often accompany big-time college football, and it's shown to be very successful. This is what prompts his perceived lack of happiness upon winning a title: It's clear Saban finds his joy in the details of day-to-day coaching and management, rather than the glory at the end of the season when they win a championship.
Saban developed his Process with the help of Lionel Rosen, a psychology and psychiatry professor at Michigan State, where Saban held his second head coaching job between 1995 and 1999. At the time, Saban was still largely unproven -- his hype and reputation still exceeded his actual results. But implementing this style of thinking helped him turn around the football program at MSU, which has always struggled to compete with Ohio State, Michigan, and the other top-tier Big Ten teams; though he left the team sooner than most expected, he certainly left it in a better state than it was when he arrived.
Accompanying his Process as another equally large contributor to his success as a coach is Saban's unbelievable recruiting acumen. His ability to identify prospects and get them to play for his school is pretty much unparalleled; Alabama has had the No. 1 recruiting class in college football for the last seven years in a row. Only Urban Meyer at Ohio State seems to be a peer in recruiting prowess, and the same Process that he applies to coaching is applied by Saban on the recruiting trail. This is a subject where Burke's insider access (not directly to Saban, but to many around him) comes in handy; the first-hand accounts of his tenaciousness on the recruiting front will be super interesting for college football fans who follow that aspect of the sport. Saban is also especially aware of how important this is to his success -- when he was hired by Alabama, he told athletic director Mal Moore that he hadn't hired the best coach in the country, but he had hired the best recruiter.
Burke's work is fast-paced, detailed and intriguing at just about every turn. If you're the type of person generally interested in reading books about successful people, this should rank right up there amongst your Silicon Valley CEO types as one to take into consideration, and its appeal to college football fans is straightforward enough.
August 22, 2015
Always fascinated by someone who can be successful in different places, so you've got to respect Saban's track record. As to the book, not so much. The highlight of a book like this should be making the games come alive, and the author tips his hand so clumsily every time that you always know what is coming, and the re-telling is flat. The bigger questions of the whole out of control college football environment aren't really addressed. The author kind of assumes that what is will always be. As to Saban himself, I'm reminded of Steve Job being rude to waitresses and thinking that was all I need to know about him; someone powerful being mean to someone weak is just unacceptable. Many times the author explains Saban's rudeness with 'that focus is what it takes to win.' I call BS to that and am reminded of Mark: What does it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?'
June 25, 2016
While I'm not a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide or Nick Saban, I love college football and good biographies, so this book was right up my alley. Monte Burke does far more than just give a rundown of Nick Saban's coaching career; he lets you see Saban the person, with all of his genius, drive, and many flaws. Burke has a theory of what drives Nick Saban: a passionate quest for unattainable perfection, instilled in him by his father, who who could never entirely please. This biography doesn't get into the minutia of many specific games but rather gives a bird's eye view of both Saban and his famous process.
September 18, 2015
An excellent read here to start off the football season. If you've ever wondered how a coach can be so dominant and make so much money, this is an insightful look into the world of football coaching.
Besides the general view of coaching, however, comes Saban and his idiosyncratic methods and experiences. I have never been an Alabama fan and I wouldn't call myself a Saban fan either. But this book has helped me to look at his coaching tenure with a more critical and informed eye. The man implements a great system and he uses it to win.
Besides the general view of coaching, however, comes Saban and his idiosyncratic methods and experiences. I have never been an Alabama fan and I wouldn't call myself a Saban fan either. But this book has helped me to look at his coaching tenure with a more critical and informed eye. The man implements a great system and he uses it to win.
January 29, 2018
This book on Nick Saban's career is insightful but somewhat superficial. A reader will find several interesting facts and insider's stories on Coach Saban's career. However, these stories never go deep and it would need a bit more of Saban's opinion and explanation. I really enjoyed knowing about his personality and his career before the 90's. I think this book is very informative for young coaches and young athletes but that older coaches probably already know most of the content it this book.
December 27, 2015
I'd rather read about college football than watch it at this point.
November 4, 2015
Here's an alternate title: "Sympathy for the Devil".
August 5, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. I think Nick Saban is a fascinating character. After reading the book, I have to figure the man has generalized anxiety, as well as some kind of additional social anxiety.
He’ll never please his hard ass father and he’ll never be perfect. He’s a real winner though.
He knows how to recruit, which is the main thing. Saban knows how to find talent. He runs a tight ship, every man needs to do his job and just keep his attention on what’s directly in front of him. Winning is a process and you can’t jump ahead and rush to the end. You’ve got to work hard every single step of the way.
Saban sacrificed his family for his career. He only sees his wife about once a week.
He has few hobbies. Besides coaching he just watches film, golfs, recruits new players, and I guess sometimes gardens or goes out on the lake. He likes movies too but rarely watches them because he’s too busy.
Saban’s whole life is football 🏈
You might not be able to tell since he’s always screaming and ranting on the sidelines and grabbing his right butt cheek while he rages… but Saban loves football and he loves coaching and even if you can’t tell, he is happy and he’s having fun. Frankly, I like the guy.
He’ll never please his hard ass father and he’ll never be perfect. He’s a real winner though.
He knows how to recruit, which is the main thing. Saban knows how to find talent. He runs a tight ship, every man needs to do his job and just keep his attention on what’s directly in front of him. Winning is a process and you can’t jump ahead and rush to the end. You’ve got to work hard every single step of the way.
Saban sacrificed his family for his career. He only sees his wife about once a week.
He has few hobbies. Besides coaching he just watches film, golfs, recruits new players, and I guess sometimes gardens or goes out on the lake. He likes movies too but rarely watches them because he’s too busy.
Saban’s whole life is football 🏈
You might not be able to tell since he’s always screaming and ranting on the sidelines and grabbing his right butt cheek while he rages… but Saban loves football and he loves coaching and even if you can’t tell, he is happy and he’s having fun. Frankly, I like the guy.
April 4, 2024
Monte Burke takes a comprehensive dive into the interesting life of the most dominant coach in college football history.
I picked this book up to learn more about “The Process” that Coach Saban and Bill Belichick have made famous during their decades of dominance. What I found was a new appreciation for the sport I covered for nearly 10-years.
Seeing the overlap of names like Pete Carroll, Bobby Bowden, Tom Osbourne, Jameis Winston, Derrick Henry, Jimbo Fisher, Kirby Smart brought back many memories of my time in Tallahassee, as I walked the fields of Doak Campbell Stadium after many Seminole wins.
It’s where I learned about the process and how I could implement it in my life at a time I so desperately needed answers and a path forward.
I would not be where I am today without Jimbo Fisher, Jameis Winston, and Nick Saban helping me understand the process by leading by example.
I am proud to be a member of the Florida State University community and even more proud to be a graduate of the University of Alabama.
Thank you, Monte, for outlining deep details of someone I have admired from afar for the last 15 years.
Roll Tide.
I picked this book up to learn more about “The Process” that Coach Saban and Bill Belichick have made famous during their decades of dominance. What I found was a new appreciation for the sport I covered for nearly 10-years.
Seeing the overlap of names like Pete Carroll, Bobby Bowden, Tom Osbourne, Jameis Winston, Derrick Henry, Jimbo Fisher, Kirby Smart brought back many memories of my time in Tallahassee, as I walked the fields of Doak Campbell Stadium after many Seminole wins.
It’s where I learned about the process and how I could implement it in my life at a time I so desperately needed answers and a path forward.
I would not be where I am today without Jimbo Fisher, Jameis Winston, and Nick Saban helping me understand the process by leading by example.
I am proud to be a member of the Florida State University community and even more proud to be a graduate of the University of Alabama.
Thank you, Monte, for outlining deep details of someone I have admired from afar for the last 15 years.
Roll Tide.
October 20, 2025
This book provides insight into how Nick Saban operates, what drives him, what motivates him, and who he is as a person. I’ve always respected Saban, and what he’s accomplished should never be overlooked.
Pros: Dedicated, loves the game and coaching, will outwork anyone, and will do whatever it takes to win.
Cons: Stubborn, changes jobs every 1–4 years, and isn’t the most personable individual outside of recruiting.
Summary: Nick Saban wants to win more than anything, but even when he wins, he is rarely satisfied. He cares about what people say and think about him, yet he is unwilling to change his methods to please others. As he has gotten older, he has softened a bit, jokes more, and seems easier to be around. Still, without his championship at LSU and major success at Alabama, his legacy might have been viewed very differently and far less favorably.
Note: I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately, it was one of the worst narrations I have ever heard. The voices used for quoted dialogue were almost unbearable, which definitely affected my overall rating.
Pros: Dedicated, loves the game and coaching, will outwork anyone, and will do whatever it takes to win.
Cons: Stubborn, changes jobs every 1–4 years, and isn’t the most personable individual outside of recruiting.
Summary: Nick Saban wants to win more than anything, but even when he wins, he is rarely satisfied. He cares about what people say and think about him, yet he is unwilling to change his methods to please others. As he has gotten older, he has softened a bit, jokes more, and seems easier to be around. Still, without his championship at LSU and major success at Alabama, his legacy might have been viewed very differently and far less favorably.
Note: I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately, it was one of the worst narrations I have ever heard. The voices used for quoted dialogue were almost unbearable, which definitely affected my overall rating.
May 24, 2017
If you love college football, you'll love this book. Unless, of course, you can't stand Nick Saban.
Here's the story of a man who could never please his father. Never satisfied with success, Saban is a fascinating study in internal contrasts. He is also the catalyst of change in college football. Follow his story, and you'll understand the exponential rise in college coaching salaries. You'll also get an insider's look at recruiting and college rivalries. Since he's spent time in the NFL, there's also a peak inside that locker room.
Saban was on the campus of Kent State when the National Guard opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War. He was on campus when Tuscaloosa was slammed by one of the deadliest tornadoes in history. Monte Burke does a great job of making this book much more than a book about football.
Now, if only Georgia could beat Alabama ...
Here's the story of a man who could never please his father. Never satisfied with success, Saban is a fascinating study in internal contrasts. He is also the catalyst of change in college football. Follow his story, and you'll understand the exponential rise in college coaching salaries. You'll also get an insider's look at recruiting and college rivalries. Since he's spent time in the NFL, there's also a peak inside that locker room.
Saban was on the campus of Kent State when the National Guard opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War. He was on campus when Tuscaloosa was slammed by one of the deadliest tornadoes in history. Monte Burke does a great job of making this book much more than a book about football.
Now, if only Georgia could beat Alabama ...
April 28, 2018
*Audiobook Review*
This was a good book to see what has made Nick Saban a successful coach. I loved to see how his wife Terry has been so influential in his coaching career. This book teaches great coaching lessons such the: the process, the 24 hour rule and making sure your program has one message coming from one person. You get an inside look at what it takes to be an elite level coach and the varying family and health costs that come along with it. I would recommend this book to any football fan.
This was a good book to see what has made Nick Saban a successful coach. I loved to see how his wife Terry has been so influential in his coaching career. This book teaches great coaching lessons such the: the process, the 24 hour rule and making sure your program has one message coming from one person. You get an inside look at what it takes to be an elite level coach and the varying family and health costs that come along with it. I would recommend this book to any football fan.
February 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. As a young college football fan, I often considered Nick Saban to be the "big bad coach." This book added personality to a dynasty. It has bettered my understanding of one of college football's all time greats, and it makes Saban very rootable. Most importantly, this book boosted my own self esteem, in an odd way, by convincing me that me relatively shy personality isn't something to be ashamed of.
July 24, 2020
Very detailed look at Saban’s personal and professional life up until the end of 2014 season. It was well written and easy to follow, and included a couple of funny stories or quotes from players you wouldn’t ever hear on ESPN. However, if you call yourself an Alabama fan and kept up with Saban through the years, there aren’t just a ton of things you’re going to pick up from this book you didn’t already know.
October 2, 2021
I wanted to like this book, yet I couldn`t. It mostly feels like an expanded Wikipedia page, with very little insights of what The Process of Nick Saban is.
Ever since HBO`s documentary "The art of coaching" I was willing to read something about Nick and since I`m finished, I cannot help but compare this one with "The education of a coach"about Bill Belichick.
And it is way behind as a sports biography. Yet, you are a Tide`s fan, you`ll find it interesting.
Ever since HBO`s documentary "The art of coaching" I was willing to read something about Nick and since I`m finished, I cannot help but compare this one with "The education of a coach"about Bill Belichick.
And it is way behind as a sports biography. Yet, you are a Tide`s fan, you`ll find it interesting.
June 6, 2024
(4.5) This was a great read! I've grown up an Alabama fan my whole life, and have only ever known Coach Saban as the coach of my Crimson Tide (until a couple months ago). I learned so much about Coach from this book that I had no idea about before. I particulary thought the story about the Coach Saban to Texas rumors was very interesting as I had never heard about that before. Roll Tide, thanks for everything Coach Saban!
March 20, 2018
Appreciate the candor
The book seems an honest telling of Coach Saban. As an Alabama fan I very much appreciate Coach Saban's success at Alabama. The book follows my memory of his career from MAY to Alabama. I don't agree with the child like portrayal of the man. I have 4*'s because I felt it was well researched and written.
The book seems an honest telling of Coach Saban. As an Alabama fan I very much appreciate Coach Saban's success at Alabama. The book follows my memory of his career from MAY to Alabama. I don't agree with the child like portrayal of the man. I have 4*'s because I felt it was well researched and written.
October 2, 2018
Such an incredibly detailed and interesting look at a man that chooses not to divulge many personal details about himself. This novel was extremely in-depth and well-written. I wanted to start all over again as soon as I had finished! Monte Burke certainly did his research in writing this novel and as an Alabama fan, I feel that much more attached to the program and the coach. Five stars.
June 10, 2020
A good biography of Saban looking at why and how he became the most successful college coach. Many times I felt there was more details that would have helped. If you want game action, this book is not for you. The author uses the games to highlight the story of the coaches accomplishments and "process" of his coaching.
I respect Saban's record but I do like him or respect him as a person.
I respect Saban's record but I do like him or respect him as a person.
January 8, 2021
Importance of being systematic in every area of the program. Define the role and expectations for everything in the organization.
Has a player lead "peer intervention program" that had been selected by their peers to be leaders and help set/enforce team rules and expectations.
Believes that sometimes losing a gam can actually be good for your program.
Saban's cultural framework was as much mental as it was physical: Thoughts, habits and priorities.
The four pillars of a college football program per Nick Saban: Recruiting, coaching, business administration and media relations.
The process: Control what you can control every minute of every day and find fulfillment within that. The bigger goals are not the focus but the little steps that you take every day.
Has a player lead "peer intervention program" that had been selected by their peers to be leaders and help set/enforce team rules and expectations.
Believes that sometimes losing a gam can actually be good for your program.
Saban's cultural framework was as much mental as it was physical: Thoughts, habits and priorities.
The four pillars of a college football program per Nick Saban: Recruiting, coaching, business administration and media relations.
The process: Control what you can control every minute of every day and find fulfillment within that. The bigger goals are not the focus but the little steps that you take every day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2024
Great biography on the life of Nick Saban from his early days growing up in West Virginia to his NFL coaching experiences to his days at Alabama up until 2015. Great insight from friends, former coaching colleagues to former players. Entertaining and easy read. Pick it up and give it a read whether you’re a fan of him or not.
February 3, 2021
Investigative reporting by the author was thorough and insightful. Nick Saban as a successful coach, is a fascinating read. It was fun to understand his upbringing, career highlights and low-lights. Highly recommend.
August 31, 2025
The first few chapters give a lot of background on Coach Saban’s younger life, and is a little slow, but those lessons are portrayed throughout the book. I picked up on many pointers on life that are weaved into the story of Saban.
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