Nick Saban Kent State

In 1987 a young defensive coordinator named nick saban wanted the lead job at kent state.

Nick saban kent state. Nick saban jack lambert and gary pinkel by athlon sports 10 24 11 6 44 pm edt the trio led the golden flashes to a mac title in a time of turmoil at the. Early life profession career. Saban was a student at kent state on may 4 1970 the day the national guard fired upon students who had burned down the school s rotc building as a way of protesting the vietnam war. Saban was a student at the time and reflects on the tragedy in a column for usa today.

Kent state s terrific trio in 1972. Nick saban s kent state years. Saban was at kent state on may 4 1970 when national guardsmen fired on a crowd of students protesting american involvement in the vietnam war. With alabama prepping to play kent state saban s alma mater.

Four students died all between 19 and 20 years old. Saban chose kent state over the naval academy and miami of ohio. He earned his master s degree in sports administration in 1975 from kent state. He later served as an assistant coach in ncaa division i a at several schools.

Syracuse in 1977 west virginia in 1978 and 1979 ohio state in 1980 and 1981 navy in 1982 and michigan state from 1983 to 1987. He started his career as a head coach on december 22 1989 when he was hired by the university of toledo. His alma mater passed and he wondered if he d ever be a head coach. He was on the team with a future head coach gary pinkel was a tight end on the team.

Things seem to have worked out ok. Today is the 40th anniversary of the kent state massacre. Saban had not intended to enter the coaching ranks until don james hired him as a graduate assistant at kent state while saban waited for his wife to graduate.