Nick Saban's return as Alabama's head coach could be pending

There have been coaches that have retired or stepped down from positions before that have come back to coach in the college game. Although it is rare, it is worth pointing out that it has happened.

And with the Alabama Crimson Tide, given the success they had under recently retired head coach Nick Saban who led the team to seven national championships, During his 17 years in Tuscaloosa, Saban not only sustained the brand that Bear Bryant and others before him had started, but he built upon it.

If unforeseen circumstances lead to another head coaching search in Tuscaloosa, the Tide would be hard pressed to not at least ask Saban about returning, and he just might.

Why would Nick Saban return as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide?

Kalen Deboer leaves for another opportunity

Current Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer arrived in Tuscaloosa just a few months ago and has not missed a beat so far. His recruiting class for 2025 ranks second in the country according to On3 . If DeBoer is able to win games on the field, with no allegiance to the University of Alabama, he could bolt for the NFL or another college job at any time.

With that being said, this is one scenario that could see the Tide reaching back out to Saban.

Kalen Deboer gets fired

The other side of the spectrum is that DeBoer does not perform and gets let go. Either way, a vacated position by the Tide would require a replacement. If the Tide are struggling due to performance, this is the scenario I would more likely see them trying to approach Saban to return. If they are in a good place, they could go for another coach, or up and coming coach at the time.

Nick Saban is currently employed by the University of Alabama

Saban is currently in an off field role as an Advisor to the football program and is making $500,000 per year. Let’s be honest here, if Saban wanted to fully walk away and not work, he could. The fact that he is opting to take a lesser role and remain part of the football program shows that there is at least still some level of desire.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder was re-hired by the university after retiring a few years prior

Although it does not happen frequently, Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder is an example of a legendary coach that came out of retirement to resurrect a floundering Kansas State program.

What was Bill Snyders’ record at Kansas State? Snyder’s overall record at Kansas State was 215-117. Snyder coached the Wildcats from 1989-2005 which included seven seasons of 10 wins or more before retiring, only to be brought back again after the team struggled under Ron Prince from 2006-2008. Snyder would return the Wildcats to their winning ways with two more seasons of 10 wins or more before retiring for a final time again in 2018.

Snyder’s rebuild of the program paved the way for current Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, who has sustained the level of success since arriving in Manhattan, Kansas.

If Alabama ends up in a situation of desperation, do not be surprised if they try to replicate what the Wildcats did with Snyder. The blueprint for this seems to have been laid, and worked out just fine for the Wildcat faithful.

The saying “you don’t know what you got until it is gone” could come into player here if the desire for Saban to return to a fuller capacity than the advisor role he is in now comes about.