TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– After winning the Regional Coach of the Year Award from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Alabama’s Nick Saban was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award on Tuesday, according to the Football Writers Association of America.
Saban, 65, has won the honor twice before in 2008 and 2003 (at LSU). He’s compiled a winning record at Alabama in each of his last 10 seasons, including nine 10-plus win seasons since 2008.
During his tenure, Saban has coached the Crimson Tide to four Southeastern Conference championships and four national titles—with the latest one occurring in 2015. He’s guided Alabama to three straight College Football Playoff appearances, while this one comes with his team being the No. 1 overall seed.
Overall, the West Virginia native is 113-18 as the Tide’s coach since 2007. He looks to obtain a sixth national title in his career. Currently, Alabama carries the nation’s longest winning streak at 25 games.
The FWAA has presented a coaching award since the 1957 season when Ohio State’s Woody Hayes was named the first recipient. The award is named for the late Eddie Robinson, a coaching legend at Grambling State University for 55 seasons. Robinson, who passed away on April 3, 2007, won 70.7 percent of his games during his illustrious career. Robinson’s teams won or tied for 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships after joining the league in 1959. His Tigers won nine Black College Football Championships during his career.
Joining Saban as finalists are: P.J. Fleck (Western Michigan), James Franklin (Penn State), Mike McIntyre (Colorado) and Chris Petersen, who coaches Alabama’s opponent in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Washington.
The official presentation reception will be on Jan. 7, 2017, in Tampa, where the winning coach will be handed the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year bust during a reception in conjunction with the College Football Playoff National Championship.
***All information comes via press release from UA’s athletic department of communications***
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
