Nick Saban may have stepped away from the sidelines, but his competitive fire clearly hasn't cooled. The legendary former Alabama football coach is diving into a new arena-literally-as a minority owner of the Nashville Predators, the NHL announced Tuesday.
“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” Saban said in a league statement. “Being involved in a sports team in Nashville has always been a goal, and the opportunity to partner in the Predators with a class act like Bill Haslam created the perfect scenario for us. The Preds are a great organization with a fantastic brand, and we are excited to be part of the future success of the franchise.”
This isn’t Saban’s first interaction with the Predators. Back in July, he spoke to the team’s top prospects during development camp-a rare crossover moment between college football royalty and the next generation of NHL talent. It was a glimpse of what was to come, and now, it’s official: Saban’s part of Smashville.
Franchise chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam welcomed Saban and businessman Joe Agresti-Saban’s longtime business partner-into the ownership group through their joint venture, Dream Sports Ventures. Haslam praised Saban’s championship pedigree and leadership, noting that his presence brings added firepower to a franchise looking to climb the NHL ranks.
“I am really looking forward to having coach Nick Saban and Joe Agresti as a part of our ownership group,” Haslam said. “Coach is one of the all-time greats in college football history and one of the winningest coaches in all of sports. We are excited to have him join us in our pursuit of championships on the ice in Nashville.”
Saban and Agresti have teamed up before in the business world, most notably through Dream Motor Group, which operates two luxury auto dealerships in Nashville-Mercedes-Benz of Music City and Prancing Horse of Nashville. Their move into sports ownership is a natural progression for two individuals who clearly understand both competition and branding at the highest level.
Saban retired from coaching after the 2023 college football season, wrapping up a storied run at Alabama that began in 2007. Just last week, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame-a fitting capstone to a coaching career defined by dominance, discipline, and an unrelenting drive for excellence.
Now, he’s bringing that same mindset to the NHL. The Predators, currently in their 28th season, are working through a rough patch on the ice.
At 13-15-4, they sit at the bottom of the Central Division with 30 points. But the addition of Saban to the ownership group signals a long-term vision-one that blends sports savvy, leadership experience, and a winning mentality.
It’s not every day you see a college football icon step into the hockey world. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Nick Saban, it’s that he doesn’t do anything halfway.
Whether it’s building dynasties in Tuscaloosa or helping shape the future of a franchise in Nashville, he’s all in. And now, the Predators just added one of the most successful minds in sports to their corner.