Nick Sabans parents: Meet Nick Saban Sr. and Mary Saban

Publish date: 2024-04-25

Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama Crimson Tide owes much of his character and values to his parents, Nick Saban Sr. and Mary Saban. While their names might not be as widely recognized, their influence on Saban’s life and coaching philosophy is undeniable.

Let’s delve into the lives of the individuals who played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of one of college football’s most successful figures.

Who are Nick Saban’s Parents?

Nick Saban’s parents were Nick Lou Saban Sr. and Mary Saban. They played a pivotal role in the development of the legendary coach we know today. Nick Saban Sr. and Mary raised Nick Jr. and his sister Dianna, in the small community of Monongah, West Virginia.

Nick Lou Saban Sr. died at the age of 46 due to a heart attack when Nick Jr. was only in his first year of graduate school. He owned five garages and worked as a gas station manager to support his family. He was actively involved in coaching Pop Warner teams and mentoring young people in his community, driving them to and from practice. Nick Jr was also part of the team, eventually leading Monongah High School to a 2A state championship in 1967.

Nick recalled that his dad purchased an old school bus and we painted motivational messages on the bus. Quotes such as, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” or “Be kind to people on the way up; you may meet them on the way down!”. He usually joined his dad on those bus rides and often credited his dad for instilling a love of sports in him.

Where Did Nick Saban’s Parents Live?

Nick Saban’s journey chronicled from a local gas station to Alabama | College Football on ESPN

Saban was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, and attended Monongah High School, which is located about 25 miles southwest of Morgantown. Nick Jr.’s grandfather immigrated to Portland, Oregon, from Croatia when he was just 13 years old.

Nick talked about the hard times early in his life and how they instilled the value of hard work in him. He reminisced about the old days when he would pump gas while his older sister, Diana, and his mother, Mary, worked in the diner.

Nick Saban’s Parents Ethnicity, Nationality and Religion

Nick Saban Sr. was born in the United States to Croatian immigrants in the late 1800s and was of American nationality. The Saban family is of Croatian ancestry. Nick Jr.’s grandfather, Stanko Saban, was born in Croatia in 1895 and migrated to Portland, Oregon when he was just 13 years old. Later, he married Anna Mihalic, a Croatian-American.

Saban Jr. is a practicing Catholic and has mentioned the importance of his faith in his life. Nick Saban Jr. and his wife, Terry, are also the creator of the Saban Catholic Student Center, a Catholic student center that serves more than 6,000 Catholic students.

Nick Saban’s Parents Net Worth

It’s hard to figure out the combined net worth of Nick Suban Sr. and Mary Saban due to the private nature of their finances, however, based on the estimates their expected net worth is around $1 million. It is relatively low compared to their son, Nick Jr.’s net worth of about $70 million as his father died at a very young age of 46.

Nick Saban’s Sibling

Nick Saban Jr. has a sister named Dianna Thompson, who lives in the Marion County community of Worthington and has three children, all of whom graduated from West Virginia. She said in an interview “When West Virginia’s playing anybody else, we cheer for West Virginia, but we can’t cheer against Brother.”

Conclusion

Nick Saban Jr. is one of the most successful college coaches of all time with many accomplishments under his belt. He’s been with the Alabama Crimson Tide since 2007 and has won six national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2020, 2023) with them. He is known for his demanding coaching style his ability to develop players and his success in recruiting top talent.

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