Nick Saban is moving to the NHL.
The former Alabama head coach and current analyst for ESPN's College GameDay has acquired a minority stake in the Nashville Predators, the team announced Tuesday. Saban acquired the stake with his business partner Joe Agresti. It is unclear how much of the team they own.
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“Although I have retired from coaching, I still have a competitive nature and a great passion for the sport,” Saban said in a statement. “Being part of a Nashville sports team has always been a goal, and the opportunity to partner with the Predators with a great actor 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 a part of the franchise's future success.”
Saban decommitted from Alabama after the 2023 season, in which he was ranked No. 17 by the Crimson Tide. He finished his coaching career with seven national championships, all but one at Alabama. Saban has since joined ESPN and College GameDay.
Saban is also a noted Predators fan. He during the team's run to the Stanley Cup Final while wearing a Predators jersey in 2017, and he earlier this summer.
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“I look forward to having Coach Nick Saban and Joe Agresti as part of our ownership group,” Predators majority owner Bill Haslam said in a statement. “Coach is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football and one of the best coaches in all of sports. We are excited to have him join us in our quest for a championship on the ice in Nashville.”
Haslam, who served as Tennessee governor from 2011-2019, acquired the Predators in 2023 for approximately $880 million. The team is valued at approximately $1.6 billion, making it the 24th most valuable team in the NHL. . By comparison, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the most valuable team in the league at around $4.4 billion.
The Predators enter Wednesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes with a 13-15-4 record, worst in the Central Division. Over the past four seasons, the team has made the playoffs just once.
