Billy Napier on Nick Saban, Miss Terry: 'They take care of their people'

The retirement of Nick Saban hit college football like a gut punch, with the sport losing one of its most legendary figures, well, ever.

But beyond the wins and the losses, moreso than the championships or the titles, Saban will be remembered by his peers for how caring he and his wife, Terry, were during his time in charge of the Alabama program. Saban helped change lives.

“Don’t underestimate the impact Miss Terry had on him and all that touched that program,” Florida coach Billy Napier said in a feature by ESPN. “I was always grateful when I got there in 2011 after being let go as offensive coordinator at Clemson and kind of starting my career over. He believed in me and gave me another chance, the same thing he’s done for so many coaches.”

Napier has been blunt about how formative his stint at Alabama was after he had been fired by Dabo Swinney at Clemson. His confidence had been shaken and he wasn’t sure where to turn.

Saban offered a spot to come work. What Napier may not have expected was all the other stuff that came with that.

When you’re part of the Alabama program under Saban, you’re treated a certain way. Player, assistant coach, staffer. It doesn’t matter, Nick Saban has a structure in place to make sure everyone has what they need to feel supported and empowered to do their job.

That extends into the personal lives of all involved.

“People don’t see some of the things that he does for you behind the scenes, both he and Miss Terry,” Napier said. “My wife went through some things medically, and they were there for us. They take care of their people.”

That wasn’t the only medical situation that would come up that would take Napier’s focus at least somewhat off the football field. An equally trying circumstance developed when he was at Alabama.

“My dad got diagnosed with ALS my first year as a receivers coach,” Napier said. “I wasn’t worth a wood nickel that year, and coach Saban helped me navigate that when I probably didn’t do my job to the best of my ability. But he had a pulse for how challenging that was for me and guided me through it.”

The Saban dynasty itself might be over with the head man walking away into retirement, but the lessons learned will likely carry on long into the future.

If the testimony of Napier and others is any indication, the Nick Saban way is something many will attempt to emulate for their players, their assistant coaches and their staffers down the road.