January 2023
Case
HBS Case Collection

Nick Saban: Embracing 'The Process' of Sustaining Success

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:30

Abstract

Nick Saban, head coach of the University of Alabama football team from 2007-2022, fielded teams that won 183 of 208 games (88%), including a record-tying six national championships. Saban’s approach to coaching, known to many as “The Process,” and the consistent success of his teams were remarkable in the history of American college football. Core to his approach was a focus on process thinking which emphasized how things are done rather than the outcomes they produce. Few had been able to replicate his approach as evidenced by his record of 24 wins and zero losses facing teams led by his former assistant coaches, prior to the 2021 season. The case systematically explores his approach to coaching, offering insights on how he developed and adapted The Process over his time at Alabama. The case begins with Saban’s first loss to a team led by a former assistant coach, exploring his response and the changing landscape of college football after restrictions around players transferring schools and earning money off their name, image, and likeness (NIL) were repealed. Saban reflects on this changing environment, the challenges of sustaining success, and the constant demand for organizational adaptation.