Saban in talks for contract extension
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, fresh off a 12-0 regular season, an SEC Championship Game appearance and the Crimson Tide’s second BCS berth, is reportedly in talks with the university for a contract extension. When he was hired, Saban made news for being the highest-paid coach in college football.
The original contract lasts through January 2015 and, with base pay and incentives, pays Saban around $4 million per year. According to The Birmingham News, the negotiations are centered around a new eight-year contract, but that an increase in pay isn’t a major point of contention.
The last time Alabama signed a coach to a contract extension was after former coach Mike Shula led the Tide to a 10-2 season and a heart-stopping win over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. The next year, Shula, whose only successful season was the 2005 effort, posted a 6-5 record and was canned before the Independence Bowl. Shula also couldn’t beat Auburn or LSU, and went 1-3 against Tennessee.
Needless to say, the UA administration has reason to be more optimistic about Saban, who has brought in consecutive No. 1 recruiting classes, beaten Tennessee twice and has 1-1 records against Auburn and LSU in his short tenure at The Capstone.
