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re: Ranking the Nick Saban coaching tree
Posted on 1/21/26 at 7:44 pm to Summer of Jimbo
Posted on 1/21/26 at 7:44 pm to Summer of Jimbo
And the Saban tree is all about learning from the goat on how to cheat. Cignetti did it legally.
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Posted on 1/21/26 at 7:48 pm to VooDude
In fact, Saban regularly picks against Cignetti, like the CFB playoffs since he didn’t really consider him as one of his.
Saban is a punk. Hope that shite gets indicted before the statute of limitations kicks in.
Saban is a punk. Hope that shite gets indicted before the statute of limitations kicks in.
This post was edited on 1/21/26 at 7:55 pm
Posted on 1/21/26 at 7:55 pm to geauxbrown
No Muschamp, No Dooley, no care
Posted on 1/21/26 at 7:56 pm to Summer of Jimbo
Good list except Jimbo is too high.
Posted on 1/21/26 at 8:30 pm to Csmims
You’ve been downloaded - why?!?! How can anyone argue your point. They’re literally disciples of Pete Carrol. He was a much bigger impact on their careers than Saban.
Posted on 1/21/26 at 8:50 pm to Summer of Jimbo
McElwain was absolutely horrible.
Posted on 1/21/26 at 9:01 pm to Summer of Jimbo
A little off-topic, but this topic made me think of this Paul Brown NFL coaching tree image.
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Posted on 1/21/26 at 9:30 pm to Summer of Jimbo
quote:
He’s been coaching for 10 years and it took him 6 to win his first? Cignetti went undefeated and won it in 2.
Cignetti has been a head coach since 2011.
Posted on 1/21/26 at 10:27 pm to PistolPete45
This is exactly why I don't understand how Kiffin is under Saban's tree. His dad was a coach and he worked for Pete Carrol first. He coached in the NFL before working for Saban.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 5:51 am to New Money
quote:
Cignetti has been a head coach since 2011.
Yeah man it’s hard to win the Sugar Bowl at IUP and Elon. I doubt they were counting time at D2 and FCS schools in that .
Posted on 1/22/26 at 5:54 am to Rougarou12
quote:
This is exactly why I don't understand how Kiffin is under Saban's tree. His dad was a coach and he worked for Pete Carrol first. He coached in the NFL before working for Saban.
Kiffin would probably be coaching a small high school in California right now if it wasn’t for Saban.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 5:57 am to NytroBud
quote:
$30,000,000.00
Would love to dig into Georgia’s finances circa 17-22 to see how much they were paying for a roster with a 90% blue chip ratio
Posted on 1/22/26 at 7:08 am to Rrrrroger
quote:
Would love to dig into Georgia’s finances circa 17-22 to see how much they were paying for a roster
Posted on 1/22/26 at 8:15 am to PistolPete45
quote:
Dan Lanning was under Saban for 1 year as a graduate assistant, so his whole career is owed to Saban?
Kirby was under Bobby Bowden for one year too.
Kirby occasionally talks about some of the stuff he learned under Bowden.
Sorry, but if you look at Kirby's resume' and entire body of work as a coach, it speaks for itself.
Coaching
2× National champion (2021, 2022)
4× SEC champion (2017, 2022, 2024, 2025)
6× SEC East Division champion (2017–2019, 2021–2023)
3× SEC Coach of the Year (2017, 2021, 2022)
As an assistant coach:
4× National champion (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)
5× SEC champion (2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015)
Broyles Award (2009)
AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year (2012)
Posted on 1/22/26 at 9:58 am to Summer of Jimbo
quote:Kirby had to coach against Saban, Cignetti not so much
He’s been coaching for 10 years and it took him 6 to win his first? Cignetti went undefeated and won it in 2.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 10:08 am to NorthEndZone
quote:
Paul Brown NFL coaching tree
Holy shite.
Also, Bill Walsh =
Posted on 1/22/26 at 10:20 am to schmoo
quote:He also had to coach against Pete golding
Kirby had to coach against Saban, Cignetti not so much
Posted on 1/22/26 at 11:57 am to theCAW
If you were a HC before Saban, you aren't part of his coaching tree. Assistants? Sure, why not. But to call Kiffin and Sarkisian part of his coaching tree is a large stretch.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 12:20 pm to Summer of Jimbo
I don't know if I'd go that far didn't OM put him in rehab after the redemption arc. Saban absolutely tremendously helped him and Sark but those guys would've eventually got another shot it's been proven time and time again these schools only care about character to an extent across all sports. Coach O was a disaster in his personal life , Will Wade fricked up. There's countless examples across college sports of less than stellar morals/personal habits mattering to these schools. Me personally as long as they don't hurt any kids I don't give a shite how big of a degenerate any of em are I'm here to consume what's on the field.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 1:22 pm to Summer of Jimbo
Cig is a great coach but no way he's earned the top spot over Kirby yet. He needs another title.
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