Nick Saban
Nick Saban went 297–71–1 on the field as a head coach, 1990–2023, at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama; 292–71–1 officially, after the NCAA vacated five wins (2007). His teams claim seven national titles: LSU in 2003 and Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020. Share
- Record
- 292–71–1 official; 297–71–1 on the field
- Seasons
- 28
- Schools
- 4
- National titles
- 7 claimed
- Born
- Oct 31, 1951
- Alma mater
- Kent State
- Hall of Fame
- 2025 inducted
- Best season
- 2009 14–0, No. 1
Season by season
Each season links to the team’s season page; bowls and playoff games link to the game. Conference finishes from the Wikipedia article’s record table.
Players he coached
DeVonta Smith
Bryce Young
Derrick Henry
Mark Ingram
Tua Tagovailoa
A.J. McCarron
Trent Richardson
Amari Cooper
Will Anderson Jr.
Najee Harris
Jonathan Allen
Minkah Fitzpatrick
- Mac JonesThird in the 2020 Heisman vote
- Barrett Jones2011 Outland Trophy
- C.J. Mosley2013 Butkus Award
- Quinnen Williams2018 Outland Trophy
Ben Wilkerson2004 Rimington Trophy
Plaxico BurressNo. 8 pick, 2000
50 more
Andre Smith (2008 Outland Trophy); Rolando McClain (2009 Butkus Award); Ryan Kelly (2015 Rimington Trophy); Jerry Jeudy (2018 Biletnikoff Award); Alex Leatherwood (2020 Outland Trophy); Reuben Foster (2016 Butkus Award); Cam Robinson (2016 Outland Trophy); Landon Dickerson (2020 Rimington Trophy); Josh Reed (2001 Biletnikoff Award); Marcell Dareus (No. 3 pick, 2011); Terrence Cody (Consensus All‑American, 2008 and 2009); Mark Barron (Consensus All‑American, 2011); Evan Neal (Consensus All‑American, 2021); Pat Surtain II (Consensus All‑American, 2020); Dee Milliner (Consensus All‑American, 2012); Chance Warmack (Consensus All‑American, 2012); Jonah Williams (Consensus All‑American, 2018); Marcus Spears (Consensus All‑American, 2004); Dont’a Hightower (Consensus All‑American, 2011); Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Consensus All‑American, 2013); Dallas Turner (Consensus All‑American, 2023); A’Shawn Robinson (Consensus All‑American, 2015); Cyrus Kouandjio (Consensus All‑American, 2013); Mike Johnson (Consensus All‑American, 2009); Antoine Caldwell (Consensus All‑American, 2008); Deionte Thompson (Consensus All‑American, 2018); Landon Collins (Consensus All‑American, 2014); Reggie Ragland (Consensus All‑American, 2015); Chad Lavalais (Consensus All‑American, 2003); Julio Jones (No. 6 pick, 2011); Jaylen Waddle (No. 6 pick, 2021); J.C. Latham (No. 7 pick, 2024); Jedrick Wills Jr. (No. 10 pick, 2020); D.J. Fluker (No. 11 pick, 2013); James Carpenter (No. 25 pick, 2011); Kareem Jackson (No. 20 pick, 2010); Rashaan Evans (No. 22 pick, 2018); Marlon Humphrey (No. 16 pick, 2017); Da’Ron Payne (No. 13 pick, 2018); Calvin Ridley (No. 26 pick, 2018); Josh Jacobs (No. 24 pick, 2019); Henry Ruggs III (No. 12 pick, 2020); Jameson Williams (No. 12 pick, 2022); Terrion Arnold (No. 24 pick, 2024); Dre Kirkpatrick (No. 17 pick, 2012); O.J. Howard (No. 19 pick, 2017); Julian Peterson (No. 16 pick, 2000); Michael Clayton (No. 15 pick, 2004); Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12 pick, 2023); Dimitrius Underwood (No. 29 pick, 1999).
18 of the 68 players from his seasons with a Heisman top-five finish, a national award, consensus All-America honors or a first-round pick, the best of each school he coached among them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.
How his teams did
| Kind of game | Games | Record | Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Against ranked teams | 151 | 104–47 | 69% |
| Against top-10 teams | 72 | 47–25 | 65% |
| Against rivals | 162 | 127–35 | 78% |
| Conference games | 226 | 178–47–1 | 79% |
| Bowls and playoffs | 31 | 19–12 | 61% |
| Decided by 8 points or fewer | 98 | 61–36–1 | 63% |
| At home | 188 | 166–22 | 88% |
| On the road | 125 | 90–34–1 | 72% |
| At neutral sites | 56 | 41–15 | 73% |
| As our Elo’s favorite | 299 | 261–37–1 | 87% |
| As our Elo’s underdog | 70 | 36–34 | 51% |
His own 369 games on file, 1990–2023, as played (vacated wins counted, ties as half a win). Ranks are the AP poll going into the game; rivals are the ones either program’s Wikipedia article names; favorite and underdog by our own Elo rating, which reads only scores.
Against other head coaches
| Coach | Record | Their schools | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Mullen 2009–2021 | 11–0 | Mississippi State, Florida | 11 | |
| Houston Nutt 2000–2011 | 8–2 | Arkansas, Ole Miss | 10 | |
| Les Miles 2007–2015 | 7–3 | LSU | 10 | |
| Gus Malzahn 2013–2020 | 5–3 | Auburn | 8 | |
| David Cutcliffe 2000–2019 | 6–1 | Ole Miss, Duke | 7 | |
| Ed Orgeron 2007–2021 | 6–1 | Ole Miss, LSU | 7 | |
| Jimbo Fisher 2017–2023 | 6–1 | Florida State, Texas A&M | 7 | |
| Mark Richt 2003–2015 | 5–2 | Georgia | 7 | |
| Joe Paterno 1995–2011 | 4–3 | Penn State | 7 | |
| Tommy Tuberville 2000–2008 | 3–4 | Auburn | 7 |
Nick Saban’s record against the head coaches he met three or more times, from the games on file, as played.
Most-faced opponents
| Opponent | Games | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Stateseries | 22 | 21–1 |
| Arkansasseries | 22 | 20–2 |
| Ole Missseries | 22 | 19–3 |
| Auburnseries | 22 | 14–8 |
| Tennesseeseries | 20 | 18–2 |
| LSUseries | 19 | 13–6 |
| Floridaseries | 14 | 10–4 |
| Georgiaseries | 13 | 10–3 |
National coaching awards
The awards- 2020 Alabama: Bear Bryant Award
- 2018 Alabama: Walter Camp Coach
- 2014 Alabama: Bobby Dodd Award
- 2008 Alabama: Eddie Robinson and Walter Camp Coach
- 2003 LSU: Bear Bryant Award and Eddie Robinson
National title staffs
Every title staff- Won a national title on LSU’s 2003 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
- Won a national title on Alabama’s 2009 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
- Won a national title on Alabama’s 2011 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
- Won a national title on Alabama’s 2012 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
- Won a national title on Alabama’s 2015 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
- Won a national title on Alabama’s 2017 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
- Won a national title on Alabama’s 2020 staff (head coach) · the staff · source
The champions’ staffs from 1990 on, as the schools listed them that season: Staff lists: Drew Hoover’s how-many-rings (MIT), from the schools’ media guides and staff pages. Roles as the source words them.
Career
| Years | Team | Job | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Kent State | Graduate assistant | |
| 1975–76 | Kent State | Linebackers coach | |
| 1977 | Syracuse | Outside linebackers coach | |
| 1978–79 | West Virginia | Defensive backs coach | |
| 1980–81 | Ohio State | Defensive backs coach | |
| 1982 | Navy | Defensive backs coach | |
| 1983–87 | Michigan State | Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach | |
| 1988–89 | Houston Oilers NFL | Defensive backs coach | |
| 1990 | Toledo | Head coach | |
| 1991–94 | Cleveland Browns NFL | Defensive coordinator | |
| 1995–99 | Michigan State | Head coach | |
| 2000–04 | LSU | Head coach | |
| 2005–06 | Miami Dolphins NFL | Head coach | |
| 2007–23 | Alabama | Head coach |
Every job as the infobox of his Wikipedia article lists it (CC BY-SA), assistant jobs included.
Coaching tree
Worked under
- Don JamesKent State
- Dennis FitzgeraldKent State
- Frank MaloneySyracuse
- Frank CignettiWest Virginia
- Earle BruceOhio State
- Gary TranquillNavy
- George PerlesMichigan State
- Jerry GlanvilleHouston Oilers
- Bill BelichickCleveland Browns
Assistants who became head coaches
- Dean PeesKent State
- Ellis RainsbergerKansas State, Washburn, Southern Illinois, Pittsburgh Maulers
- L. C. ColeTennessee State, Alabama State, Stillman
- Tom AmstutzToledo
- Bobby WilliamsMichigan State
- Brad SalemAugustana (SD)
- Gary TranquillNavy
- Greg ColbyMillersville
- Mark DantonioCincinnati, Michigan State
- Pat ShurmurCleveland Browns, New York Giants
- Brian PolianNevada, John Carroll
- Mel TuckerColorado, Michigan State
- and 48 more
Worked under (9)
| Head coach | Team | Years | His job | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don James | Kent State | 1973–74 | Graduate assistant | |
| Dennis Fitzgerald | Kent State | 1975–76 | Linebackers coach | |
| Frank Maloney | Syracuse | 1977 | Outside linebackers coach | |
| Frank Cignetti | West Virginia | 1978–79 | Defensive backs coach | |
| Earle Bruce | Ohio State | 1980–81 | Defensive backs coach | |
| Gary Tranquill | Navy | 1982 | Defensive backs coach | |
| George Perles | Michigan State | 1983–87 | Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach | |
| Jerry Glanville | Houston Oilers NFL | 1988–89 | Defensive backs coach | |
| Bill Belichick | Cleveland Browns NFL | 1991–94 | Defensive coordinator |
Coached under him, later head coaches (60)
| Coach | With him | Head coach at | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Pees | Toledo, 1990: defensive coordinator; Michigan State, 1995–97: defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach | Kent State | |
| Ellis Rainsberger | Toledo, 1990: assistant coach | Kansas State, Washburn, Southern Illinois, Pittsburgh Maulers | |
| L. C. Cole | Toledo, 1990: running backs coach | Tennessee State, Alabama State, Stillman | |
| Tom Amstutz | Toledo, 1990: outside linebackers coach | Toledo | |
| Bobby Williams | Michigan State, 1995–99: running backs coach; LSU, 2004: wide receivers coach; Miami Dolphins, 2005–06: running backs coach; Alabama, 2008–15: tight ends and special teams coach; 2016–17: special assistant | Michigan State | |
| Brad Salem | Michigan State, 1995: graduate assistant | Augustana (SD) | |
| Gary Tranquill | Michigan State, 1995–98: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | Navy | |
| Greg Colby | Michigan State, 1995–97: assistant coach | Millersville | |
| Mark Dantonio | Michigan State, 1995–99: defensive backs coach | Cincinnati, Michigan State | |
| Pat Shurmur | Michigan State, 1995–97: tight ends, offensive line and special teams coach | Cleveland Browns, New York Giants | |
| Brian Polian | Michigan State, 1997: graduate assistant | Nevada, John Carroll | |
| Mel Tucker | Michigan State, 1997–98: graduate assistant; LSU, 2000: defensive backs coach; Alabama, 2015: assistant head coach and defensive backs coach | Colorado, Michigan State | |
| Brian Daboll | Michigan State, 1998–99: graduate assistant; Alabama, 2017: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | New York Giants | |
| Frederick Farrier | Michigan State, 1998–99: graduate assistant | Kentucky State, Morgan State | |
| Morris Watts | Michigan State, 1999: offensive coordinator | Michigan State | |
| Derek Dooley | LSU, 2000–02: tight ends coach; 2003–04: assistant head coach and running backs coach; Miami Dolphins, 2005–06: tight ends coach; Alabama, 2022–23: senior offensive analyst | Louisiana Tech, Tennessee | |
| Freddie Kitchens | LSU, 2000: graduate assistant | North Carolina, Cleveland Browns | |
| Jimbo Fisher | LSU, 2000–04: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | Florida State, Texas A&M | |
| Michael Haywood | LSU, 2000–02: running backs and special teams coach | Miami (OH), Texas Southern | |
| Sal Sunseri | LSU, 2000: linebackers and special teams coach; Alabama, 2009–11: assistant head coach and linebackers coach; 2019–21: outside linebackers coach; 2022: special assistant to the head coach | Pittsburgh | |
| Gary Gibbs | LSU, 2001: defensive coordinator | Oklahoma | |
| Will Muschamp | LSU, 2001: linebackers coach; 2002–04: defensive coordinator; Miami Dolphins, 2005: assistant head coach | Florida, South Carolina | |
| Harlon Barnett | LSU, 2003: graduate assistant | Michigan State | |
| Kirby Smart | LSU, 2004: defensive backs coach; Miami Dolphins, 2006: safeties coach; Alabama, 2007: assistant head coach and defensive backs coach; 2008–15: defensive coordinator | Georgia | |
| Dan Quinn | Miami Dolphins, 2005–06: defensive line coach | Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders | |
| Scott Linehan | Miami Dolphins, 2005: offensive coordinator | St. Louis Rams | |
| Curt Cignetti | Alabama, 2007–10: wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator | James Madison, Indiana, IU Pennsylvania, Elon | |
| Gabe Giardina | Alabama, 2007: graduate assistant | Albany State, Charleston Southern | |
| Geoff Collins | Alabama, 2007: director of player personnel | Temple, Georgia Tech | |
| Jeremy Pruitt | Alabama, 2007–09: director of player development; 2010–12: defensive backs coach; 2016–17: defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach | Tennessee | |
| Joe Pendry | Alabama, 2007–10: assistant head coach and offensive line coach | Pittsburgh Maulers | |
| Kevin Steele | Alabama, 2007, 2023: defensive coordinator; 2008: defensive head coach and inside linebackers coach; 2013: director player personnel; 2014: linebackers coach | Baylor, Auburn | |
| Lance Taylor | Alabama, 2007–08: graduate assistant | Western Michigan | |
| Major Applewhite | Alabama, 2007: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach; 2019–20: analyst | Houston, South Alabama | |
| Jim McElwain | Alabama, 2008–11: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | Colorado State, Florida, Central Michigan | |
| Billy Napier | Alabama, 2011: analyst; 2013–16: wide receivers coach | Louisiana, Florida, James Madison | |
| Mario Cristobal | Alabama, 2013–16: assistant head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator | Florida International, Oregon, Miami | |
| Alex Mortensen | Alabama, 2014–16: graduate assistant; 2017–22: analyst | UAB | |
| Lane Kiffin | Alabama, 2014–16: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss, LSU, Oakland Raiders | |
| Tosh Lupoi | Alabama, 2014–15: defensive assistant; 2016: outside linebackers coach; 2017: co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach; 2018: defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach | California | |
| Dan Lanning | Alabama, 2015: graduate assistant | Oregon | |
| Eric Kiesau | Alabama, 2015: offensive assistant | Fresno State | |
| Brent Key | Alabama, 2016–18: offensive line coach | Georgia Tech | |
| Mike Locksley | Alabama, 2016: offensive assistant; 2017: co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach; 2018: offensive coordinator | New Mexico, Maryland | |
| Steve Sarkisian | Alabama, 2016: offensive assistant and interim offensive coordinator; 2019–20: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | Washington, USC, Texas | |
| Butch Jones | Alabama, 2018–20: offensive assistant | Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Arkansas State | |
| Dan Enos | Alabama, 2018: assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach | Central Michigan | |
| Jeff Banks | Alabama, 2018–20: tight ends and special teams coach | Texas A&M | |
| Lou Spanos | Alabama, 2018: analyst | UConn | |
| Pete Golding | Alabama, 2018–22: defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach | Ole Miss | |
| Charles Huff | Alabama, 2019–20: running backs coach | Marshall, Southern Miss, Memphis | |
| Charles Kelly | Alabama, 2019–22: assistant defensive coordinator and safeties coach | Jacksonville State | |
| Kyle Flood | Alabama, 2019–20: offensive line coach | Rutgers | |
| Mike Stoops | Alabama, 2019–20: defensive analyst | Arizona | |
| Charlie Strong | Alabama, 2020, 2023: defensive analyst | Florida, Louisville, Texas, South Florida | |
| Bill O’Brien | Alabama, 2021–22: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | Penn State, Boston College, Houston Texans | |
| Doug Marrone | Alabama, 2021: offensive line coach | Syracuse, Buffalo Bills | |
| Drew Svoboda | Alabama, 2021: special teams coordinator and tight ends coach; 2022: senior special assistant to head coach | North Texas | |
| Kevin Sumlin | Alabama, 2021: analyst | Houston, Texas A&M, Arizona, Houston Gamblers | |
| Ron Cooper | Alabama, 2021: analyst | Eastern Michigan, Louisville, Alabama A&M, Long Island University |
Other assistants under him (55)
| Coach | With him | |
|---|---|---|
| Greg Meyer | Toledo, 1990: offensive coordinator | |
| Phil Parker | Toledo, 1990: defensive backs coach | |
| Jim Bollman | Michigan State, 1995–97: offensive line coach | |
| Chuck Bullough | Michigan State, 1997: defensive backs coach; 1998: offensive line coach | |
| Bill Sheridan | Michigan State, 1998–99: linebackers coach | |
| Chris Cosh | Michigan State, 1998: defensive coordinator | |
| Pat Ruel | Michigan State, 1998–99: offensive line coach | |
| Bill Miller | Michigan State, 1999: defensive coordinator | |
| Chad Walker | LSU, 2000: student assistant; 2003–04: defensive graduate assistant; Miami Dolphins, 2005–06: defensive quality control coach | |
| Pete Jenkins | LSU, 2000–01: defensive line coach | |
| Phil Elmassian | LSU, 2000: defensive coordinator | |
| Charlie Harbison | LSU, 2001–02: defensive backs coach | |
| George Yarno | LSU, 2001–02: offensive line coach | |
| James Coley | LSU, 2003–04: graduate assistant; Miami Dolphins, 2005–06: offensive assistant | |
| Lawrence Dawsey | LSU, 2003: graduate assistant | |
| Mike Collins | LSU, 2003–04: linebackers coach | |
| Tim Walton | LSU, 2003: defensive backs coach | |
| Dameyune Craig | LSU, 2004: graduate assistant; Miami Dolphins, 2005: STA | |
| John Papuchis | LSU, 2004: graduate assistant | |
| Rob Sale | Alabama, 2007–11: strength coach, conditioning assistant and offensive analyst | |
| Travis Trickett | Alabama, 2007: graduate assistant | |
| Glenn Schumann | Alabama, 2008–11: student assistant; 2011–14: graduate assistant | |
| James Willis | Alabama, 2009: assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach | |
| Mike Groh | Alabama, 2009: graduate assistant; 2011–12: wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator | |
| Derrick Ansley | Alabama, 2010–11: graduate assistant; 2016–17: defensive backs coach | |
| Kevin Sherrer | Alabama, 2010–12: director of player development | |
| Chris Rumph | Alabama, 2011–13: defensive line coach | |
| Rob Ezell | Alabama, 2011: student assistant; 2015–16: graduate assistant; 2017–20: offensive assistant | |
| Russ Callaway | Alabama, 2011–12: defensive analyst | |
| Doug Nussmeier | Alabama, 2012–13: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | |
| John Van Dam | Alabama, 2012–13: offensive graduate assistant | |
| Greg Brown | Alabama, 2013: defensive backs coach | |
| Jake Peetz | Alabama, 2013, 2018: offensive analyst | |
| Aazaar Abdul-Rahim | Alabama, 2014: analyst; 2015: assistant director of player personnel | |
| Doug Belk | Alabama, 2014–16: graduate assistant | |
| Charlie Weis Jr. | Alabama, 2015–16: offensive assistant | |
| Chris Weinke | Alabama, 2017–19: offensive analyst | |
| Mike Miller | Alabama, 2017–18: graduate assistant | |
| Josh Gattis | Alabama, 2018: co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach | |
| Karl Scott | Alabama, 2018–20: defensive backs coach | |
| A. J. Milwee | Alabama, 2019–20: offensive assistant | |
| Brian Baker | Alabama, 2019: assistant head coach and defensive line coach | |
| Holmon Wiggins | Alabama, 2019–20: wide receivers coach; 2021–23: assistant head coach and wide receivers coach | |
| Tino Sunseri | Alabama, 2019–20: graduate assistant | |
| Vinnie Sunseri | Alabama, 2019: graduate assistant | |
| Max Bullough | Alabama, 2020–22: graduate assistant | |
| Dave Huxtable | Alabama, 2021–22: analyst | |
| Will Lawing | Alabama, 2021–22: offensive analyst | |
| Coleman Hutzler | Alabama, 2022–23: special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach | |
| Joe Cox | Alabama, 2022–23: tight ends coach | |
| Todd Grantham | Alabama, 2022: defensive analyst | |
| Travaris Robinson | Alabama, 2022–23: cornerbacks coach | |
| John McNulty | Alabama, 2023: analyst | |
| Robert Bala | Alabama, 2023: linebackers coach | |
| Tommy Rees | Alabama, 2023: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach |
From coaches’ Wikipedia infoboxes (CC BY-SA) and each season’s article for its coordinators: an assistant’s seasons at a school count under its head coach in our records; jobs in the NFL and elsewhere, under the head coach whose own article lists the job that year. Names without a page here link to their Wikipedia articles.
Pay
| Year | School | Job | Contract pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000; $550,000 in bonuses paid; buyout $26,900,000 | $11,132,000 USA Today | |
| 2016 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000; $625,000 in bonuses paid | $6,939,395 USA Today | |
| 2015 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000; $425,000 in bonuses paid | $7,087,481 USA Today | |
| 2014 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $7,160,187 USA Today | |
| 2013 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $5,545,852 USA Today via Leeds | |
| 2012 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $5,476,738 USA Today via Leeds | |
| 2011 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $4,833,333 USA Today via Leeds | |
| 2010 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $5,997,349 USA Today via Leeds | |
| 2009 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $3,900,000 USA Today via Leeds | |
| 2008 | Alabama | head coach | $3,750,000 USA Today via Leeds | |
| 2007 | Alabama | head coachbonuses up to $700,000 | $3,503,200 USA Today via Leeds |
USA Today’s coaches salary database (2014–17, from public-records requests to the schools; Rachel Ehlers’ copy): the season’s contract pay, school pay plus outside money, before bonuses.
The same USA Today database for 2006–16, from Michael Leeds’ replication data on Harvard Dataverse (CC0): the season’s contract pay.
Pay of public employees in their public job only: head coaches, and assistants in the seasons our records name them a coordinator, at public universities.
How he coached
Saban’s teams went for it on 16% of fourth downs and on 29% of those where the model said go for it, passed on 45% of plays and took 27.0 seconds a play, 2004–2023.
| Season | School | Went for it on fourth | When the model said go | Pass rate | Seconds a play | EPA a play | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 11 g | LSU | 11 of 83 13% | 16% | 39% | 24.4 | −0.03 | |
| 2007 12 g | Alabama | 10 of 103 10% | 27% | 51% | 22.9 | −0.08 | |
| 2008 14 g | Alabama | 10 of 97 10% | 17% | 40% | 29.1 | −0.03 | |
| 2009 14 g | Alabama | 18 of 110 16% | 23% | 38% | 28.4 | 0.00 | |
| 2010 13 g | Alabama | 15 of 78 19% | 34% | 47% | 28.6 | +0.12 | |
| 2011 12 g | Alabama | 11 of 79 14% | 29% | 43% | 29.2 | +0.06 | |
| 2012 14 g | Alabama | 11 of 80 14% | 19% | 39% | 29.7 | +0.15 | |
| 2013 13 g | Alabama | 12 of 69 17% | 31% | 45% | 29.8 | +0.18 | |
| 2014 14 g | Alabama | 13 of 88 15% | 26% | 46% | 26.2 | +0.16 | |
| 2015 15 g | Alabama | 24 of 127 19% | 34% | 44% | 26.9 | +0.02 | |
| 2016 15 g | Alabama | 17 of 107 16% | 46% | 42% | 25.6 | +0.06 | |
| 2017 14 g | Alabama | 19 of 102 19% | 32% | 38% | 25.8 | +0.12 | |
| 2018 15 g | Alabama | 16 of 74 22% | 30% | 45% | 26.6 | +0.26 | |
| 2019 13 g | Alabama | 20 of 70 29% | 52% | 50% | 27.2 | +0.28 | |
| 2020 13 g | Alabama | 9 of 54 17% | 32% | 50% | 26.4 | +0.31 | |
| 2021 15 g | Alabama | 17 of 93 18% | 35% | 55% | 25.0 | +0.17 | |
| 2022 13 g | Alabama | 14 of 84 17% | 31% | 52% | 25.5 | +0.18 | |
| 2023 14 g | Alabama | 7 of 95 7% | 21% | 43% | 28.2 | +0.13 | |
| All 244 g | 254 of 1593 16% | 29% | 45% | 27.0 | +0.12 |
His seasons as a head coach from 2004 on, from ESPN’s play by play: fourth downs where he went for it out of every fourth-down decision; how often he went when SportsDataverse’s fourth-down model said going for it was the better call; the share of his offense’s plays that were passes; seconds of game clock per offensive play (lower is faster); and expected points added per offensive play (EPA, a measure of how much each play moved the offense toward points). The season in progress counts its games so far. SportsDataverse’s coach tendencies, from ESPN’s play by play; the EPA and the fourth-down model are SportsDataverse’s.
Books and statues
In bronze
Books: Open Library (CC0); most-reissued first, each linked to its page there. Statues: Wikidata (CC0) and Wikimedia Commons; links only.