MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Earlier in the week, former Alabama quarterback turned college football analyst Greg McElroy said on the Cubelic in the Morning Show that he heard someone predict Nick Saban will return to coaching at some point. He cited a ‘very much in the know person’ who thinks Saban would get back to the sidelines.
McElroy went on to say, ““This is a little bit out of left field, but the question was asked of me … a very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire. They seem to think Nick Saban’s not done coaching. I had a similar reaction. He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again. … Look, if it wasn’t someone notable, I’d never say a word.”
On3’s Ari Wasserman spoke about the potential of Saban returning to coaching, and he gave several options that make sense if in fact the legendary head coach returns to the game. One potential destination that made a lot of sense for Wasserman was West Virginia University. Here’s what Wasserman had to say about the idea of Saban returning home to coach the Mountaineers:
“I am so obsessed with the notion of like returning home, or coming back to your roots to put a bow on something,” Wasserman said. “Now you said he would never go to a place that doesn’t have the infrastructure to win a national championship. The question I have is whether or not that infrastructure is created. Could he go to the Big 12 and win a national championship? Could you imagine Nick Saban at West Virginia? And Rich Rod(rigeuz) is the man! Like, I love Rich Rod! But could you imagine him at a Big 12 school like West Virginia, where he grew up? Reviving the Mountaineers and then making the playoff! How cool would that be?”
Going live in a minute to talk about Nick Saban because of course we are https://t.co/L3FOqRea5Q
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) July 14, 2025
That said, it’s very unlikely that West Virginia would even consider another coach, even it’s perhaps the greatest head coach in the history of college football. Rich Rodriguez was just hired during the offseason and many, myself included, believe that he is the very best person to lead the Mountaineers at this time. However, the rumors of Saban potentially returning home will continue when it’s mentioned that he could be coming out of retirement.
Saban, 73, won 7 national championship (2003 at LSU and 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 at Alabama) and finished his remarkable career with an amazing 292-71-1 record. Saban, who was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, still has family and close ties in the area. Earlier this season, Saban joined Pat McAfee on The Pat McAfee Show and said, “Look, I’m a Mountaineer. That’s where I grew up. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the fact that you played there. I coached there and I love my state.
