Nick Saban has built a career on winning. Seven national titles, countless NFL draft picks, and a legacy at Alabama that will echo through college football history. But now, Saban’s turning the page - and his next chapter includes hockey.
The legendary coach is officially a minority owner of the Nashville Predators, joining the franchise’s ownership group alongside business partner Joe Agresti through Dream Sports Ventures LLC. The move, announced at Bridgestone Arena on December 22, isn’t about financial gain. For Saban, it’s about purpose - and the thrill of building something great.
“It’s more about the challenge of, how can we help the team rebuild, get better and have a chance to compete for a championship?” Saban said. “That’s the goal, that’s the excitement, that’s the reason I’m here today.”
This isn’t just a symbolic role. Saban’s not here to sit in a luxury suite and wave to the crowd. He’s here to contribute - not in scouting or line combinations, but in culture, leadership, and the kind of high-performance mindset that turned Alabama into a dynasty.
It all started with a conversation between Saban and former Tennessee governor and Predators majority owner Bill Haslam. The two had previously discussed a potential WNBA expansion bid in Nashville - a project that ultimately went to other cities - but when Saban expressed interest in hockey, Haslam didn’t hesitate.
“That’s the greatest no-brainer of all time,” Haslam said. “You have somebody who understands building a championship culture, who understands - I think better than almost anybody in sports - the process that’s needed to get to where you can compete as a champion.”
And that’s exactly what the Predators are chasing.
Nashville has made the playoffs 16 times in 26 seasons, and fans still remember the electric 2017 run to the Stanley Cup Final. But since a first-round win in 2018, the team hasn’t sniffed that level of success again. That’s where Saban sees opportunity - not to call lines or make trades, but to bring a championship mindset to the front office and locker room.
He got a head start this summer, visiting the Predators’ development camp in July and speaking with both coaches and young prospects. His message? Be the team nobody wants to play.
“That was always our goal at Alabama,” Saban said. “That’s how you compete - the toughness that you play with, the disposition that you go out there and compete with. Those types of things I’d like to continue to do.”
Saban’s not pretending to be a hockey expert. He’s not evaluating draft boards or breaking down power plays. But he knows how to build a team, how to foster elite habits, and how to set a standard - and that’s exactly what the Predators are hoping to tap into.
General manager Barry Trotz and head coach Andrew Brunette will handle the on-ice product. Saban’s value lies in the margins - in leadership development, organizational culture, and the kind of accountability that turns good teams into great ones.
He’ll be around, too. Saban already makes regular trips to Nashville to check in on his luxury car dealerships - Mercedes-Benz of Music City and Prancing Horse of Nashville - which he co-owns with Agresti. And while Haslam joked about trying to lure Saban away from his Florida retirement home, the coach-turned-owner is clearly energized by the chance to be part of a team again.
That’s what he missed most after retiring from coaching in 2023. The grind, the camaraderie, the shared mission - it’s what drove him for decades, and it’s what drew him to the Predators.
Even his wife, Terry - affectionately known as “Miss Terry” - is all in.
“To be honest, Miss Terry has never asked me who won a game,” Saban said. “Last night I was looking at scores, and she asked me who won the Predators game. This runs deep in our house.”
So while Saban may be new to the NHL, he’s no stranger to building winners. And if he can help bring that edge, that culture, that relentless drive to Nashville, the Predators just might have found their most valuable offseason addition - not on the ice, but in the owners’ box.