Matt Eberflus discusses Nick Saban and the impact on his career

New Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus played his college football at the University of Toldeo for four seasons as a defensive back. During the 1990 season, he was coached by current Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, someone Eberflus still stays in contact with.

During an appearance on SportsCenter on Wednesday, host Matt Barrie asked Eberflus about his relationship with Saban and the type of impact he had on the Bears’ headman. Eberflus said he learned a lot in just one season in working with Saban and it’s something he’s used himself as a coach.

“It was his first year as a head coach,” Eberflus said. “I was a junior at the time at the University of Toldeo. What an impact he had on me as a young man in terms of taking over an organization or a program and the way he implemented it in one year’s time. We became MAC champions that first year. What a great example for me from Coach Saban.”

“He was a great example of a master coach, somebody that you wanted to emulate. He would state what he wanted to do but he would also give you examples on how. The exact way he wanted you to do it and that’s what I learned from him. Just a great example of the how and how to get it done.”

From there, Eberflus went on to talk about how much he and Saban communicate with one another. The Chicago head coach said it’s “every once in awhile” and the two last saw each other at a previous year’s Senior Bowl.

“We talk every once in a while,” said Eberflus. “Last time I saw him was at the Senior Bowl. Wasn’t this year, the year before and we get the chance to visit every once in a while. He’s always good to talk to.”

Eberflus began his coaching career at Toldeo after Saban left, serving as a student assistant coach before being promoted to a graduate assistant in 1993. He stayed with the program until the 2001 season, making it as high as defensive backs coach before being hired by Missouri to be their defensive coordinator.

Nick Saban and Eberflus never got to face off against each other, with the latter making a move to the NFL for the 2009 season with the Dallas Cowboys. Instead, the two will be able to continue to have a solid relationship and learn off each other during their respective offseasons.