Nick Saban reveals how he has evolved as a college football coach

College football has changed a lot since Nick Saban first started coaching in 1990. From Toledo and Michigan State to LSU and Alabama, it’s an all-new sport than what he started in.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Chris Low, Saban talked about how he has had to adapt his coaching style to today’s game. He says he has a come a long way as a teacher compared to his rougher, louder self in seasons before.

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“I think I’ve become a better teacher. I think yelling and screaming at players in this day and age really goes in one ear and out the other,” said Saban. “If you want them to really resonate on what you’re saying, you just need to teach it and, sometimes, it works better if you do it individually than if you do it in front of other people. That’s not something I considered in years past.”

Whatever Saban has changed is obviously working. Of his college seasons, his last one at .500 or worse was in 1998 in East Lansing. However, it has truly become historic since he took over the Crimson Tide. He has accumulated a 183-25 record over his 16 seasons in Tuscaloosa. That 88% winning percentage also comes with six national titles and eight SEC titles.

While his changes have been highly successful, he says he can still get after guys on the field. It just only comes out for things that, in Tuscaloosa, have become both unheard of and unacceptable.

“I still can get hot under the collar every now and then but I try to leave that to intangible things like giving effort, playing with toughness and finishing plays. Not necessarily mental errors,” Saban said.

Nick Saban has been in the sport a long time and will continue to be after his recent extension. Another decade will bring even more changes to the sport of college football. If anyone has proven they can adjust and keep on winning, though, it’s Saban by far.