What did Nick Saban say about Lane Kiffin and his coaching tree on Theo Von?

Asked by Theo Von about Lane Kiffin, Nick Saban declined to make predictions but called Kiffin a fantastic play caller who reads what an opponent is doing and adapts during a game, and a strong recruiter who relates well to players. On his wider coaching tree, including Kirby Smart, Jimbo Fisher, Dan Lanning, Steve Sarkisian and Mario Cristobal, Saban said playing people who know him is harder, and that he told each departing assistant to be himself rather than copy him.

• Saban says he hired coaches who had been fired elsewhere when he believed he could manage the issue, and each knew one more slip would end his career.
• Saban recalls Mario Cristobal refusing to let him drive during an Iowa blizzard on a recruiting trip.

▸In their words

“but I will say that Lane is a really good coach.” Nick Saban · at 1:06:08 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von (2026-10-06). Read the whole episode summary →

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