Alabama announced an extension and raise for Nick Saban on Friday, keeping him under contract through the 2025 season. The new deal is a 1-year extension on his existing contract, pushing the completion date to Feb. 28, 2026. The 2025 season would mark Saban's 19th at Alabama, his 32nd as a head coach at all levels, and his 74th birthday.
The extension pushes Saban past Urban Meyer as the nation's highest-paid coach. His 2018 salary will be $8.3 million (Meyer is set to make $7.6 million this year) with $400,000 annual raises and "completion benefits" after the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons. The 8-year contract will average $9.3 million before a single bonus figure is paid.
"Our family is thrilled to agree to a contract extension with The University of Alabama that will keep us in Tuscaloosa for the rest of our coaching career," Saban said in a statement. "For Terry and me, the Tuscaloosa community and the state of Alabama have become home, and a place with deep roots for our entire family. We are very excited about the future, and this agreement allows us to continue to build on the success we have enjoyed at Alabama – both on and off the football field."
As detailed brilliantly through Alabama's revamped trophy room, Saban has compiled a 127-20 mark in his 11 seasons leading the Tide, including a 125-14 mark with five national championships, five SEC titles, 10 consecutive AP top-10 finishes and a record 10 straight seasons with at least one AP No. 1 ranking.
"We are so fortunate to have the best football coach in the country here at Alabama in Coach Saban, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to another contract extension," AD Greg Byrne said. "What this program has accomplished under him over the past decade is truly remarkable, and it goes well beyond the five national championships."