When Nick Saban announced his retirement last week, what was made clear was that he won’t be going too far away from the program.
Reports stemming from the announcement shared that Saban would be keeping an office inside Bryant-Denny Stadium but specifics on what the seven-time champion’s day-to-day would be were scarce.
But during an appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show on Wednesday, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne shed a bit of light on Saban’s new role stating that he would serve the program as and advisor.
“He is going to be an advisor for us,” Byrne said. “He’s been awesome. He and I talked during the coaching search. I mean, somebody asked me, ‘Was he involved?’ I was like, ‘Man, I’m not very smart.’ Many people know that, but I’m smart enough to know when you have a chance to have Nick Saban involved with talking about coaching football and decision-making and leadership, shame on me if I don’t take advantage of that.
“He and I talked this morning. He’s been very helpful trying to talk to the young men that he’s recruited here and just again say we’re in a really good spot going forward, and he’ll continue to be here and be part of our program. And we’re very happy for that.”
After his 17 years as the head coach at Alabama, Saban is already the top assistant new head coach Kalen DeBoer could ever hope to have as he aids in his transition from Washington to the Crimson Tide.
DeBoer has also quickly embraced Saban’s continued involvement in the program stating that he will have “one hundred percent access” to the facility and provide him with at least one tip each day.
“I’m going to ask that he shows up and gives me at least one thing every day,” DeBoer said last Saturday during his introduction as the new head coach. “I’m sure he’s going to have 10 — and I’m going to be good with that, but at least one thing he sees that we can get better at.”
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
