Nick Saban’s approach to recruiting involved one key ingredient
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Nick Saban’s approach to recruiting involved one key ingredient

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Nick Saban’s honest approach to recruiting was a key to his Alabama dynasty, high school coaches told AL.com this week.

Saban announced his retirement after 17 years as head coach of the Crimson Tide on Wednesday.

During his tenure, he signed 10 No. 1 recruiting classes.

“A lot of his success was just because he was very honest,” Theodore high school coach Steve Mask said. “He goes in and tells you that you are going to have a chance to play for the best program in the country, but you are not going to be given anything and, if you are not ready to work, you need to go somewhere else. He had that rare quality and ability to connect with kids.”

During his time at Alabama, Saban signed 65 five-star prospects and 274 Rivals 250 prospects. Even ahead of his retirement announcement, his recruiting never slowed. Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 2 behind only SEC rival Georgia, according to 247 Sports.

“He was no-nonsense,” Auburn High coach Keith Etheredge said of Saban’s approach to recruiting. “I’ve talked to him a number of times. He’s been super nice. He cuts up with you. But, when you start talking about guys he is recruiting, the joking and all that stops.

“He is as serious as a heart attack at that point. He wants to know about their family. He gets into detail about each player. I think he tries to find the little intricacies that he can get a hold of that others may not get to. He tries to find all that stuff out.”

Mark Freeman’s Thompson High juggernaut sent multiple players to Alabama under Saban, including Jeremiah Alexander, Tony Mitchell and Taulia Tagavailoa.

“Coach Saban is a really good person,” Freeman said. “When you talk to him and the media isn’t around, he was just like talking to anyone. You can see why he was so effective in the living rooms of recruits. He was good to the high school coaches in this state. He’s gonna be hard to replace.”

Former Alabama quarterback Jake Coker can testify to Saban’s recruiting approach firsthand. The former St. Paul’s QB transferred from Florida State to Alabama to play for Saban. In an interview on Sports Talk 99.5 in Mobile on Wednesday, he remembered Saban’s visit to his house.

“It was cool,” Coker said. “It was historic for me in my life. He lived up to the hype that is coach Saban. Everything about him exceeded expectations. … I think if you dropped him into any professional setting, he would dominate. That is just the kind of guy he is.”