Saban to coach as long as he can do ‘good job’

Nick Saban plans to keep coaching as long as he’s productive.

Considering Saban captured his fifth national championship at Alabama and sixth career on Monday, it’s safe to say that the 66-year-old is continuing to get results.

Shortly after the Crimson Tide posted a 26-23 overtime win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff Championship Game, Saban was asked about his coaching plans.

“As long as I feel like I can do a good job for the players and the team — from an energy level, from a focus level, from a concentration level, from providing a good staff of people around them to help them have success,” Saban said. “These are things that I know that I cannot do forever, but they’re certainly things that I have enjoyed and hope I can continue to enjoy in the future.”

The victory tied Saban with the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant with six national championships, although the former told reporters that the latter had a greater influence on college football.

“I think coach Bryant is probably the best coach of all time because of the longevity of his tenure as a coach and the way he changed,” Saban said. “I mean, he won championships running the wishbone. He ran them with Joe Namath dropping back throwing when people never, ever did it. I just think that, for his time, he impacted the game and had more success than anybody ever could.”

Signed to a three-year contract extension in May, Saban owns a 127-20 record with the Crimson Tide.

Saban has also coached at LSU, Michigan State and Toledo and owns a 218-66-1 record as a collegiate head coach. He also spent two seasons in the NFL coaching the Miami Dolphins, going 15-17 before joining Alabama in 2007.