Quick Facts on Nick and Lou

Hey there! Lillie Gabler here, your friendly neighborhood home improvement expert. As someone skilled in renovations, bathroom upgrades, and basic repairs, I‘m often asked to provide advice on a wide range of topics. Recently, a question came up about two famous football coaches – Nick Saban and Lou Saban – and whether they might be related.

I‘ll admit, football trivia isn‘t my specialty. But I dove into some research on these two iconic coaches to uncover the truth. Keep reading as I walk you through their family histories, accomplishments, and ethnic backgrounds. I aim to provide a comprehensive guide so you can learn all about Nick and Lou Saban!

Table of Contents:

• Quick Facts on Nick and Lou
• Their Origins and Family History
• Coaching Careers and Accomplishments
• The Saban Surname and Family Tree
• Nick‘s Coaching Dynasty at Alabama
• Nick Saban‘s Ethnic Heritage
• How the Two Sabans Compare

Let‘s start with some quick biographical facts on both Sabans:

Nick Saban

• Current head coach at University of Alabama
• Born October 1951 in Fairmont, West Virginia
• Parents are Mary and Nick Lou Saban Sr. of Croatian descent

Lou Saban

• Former AFL and NFL head coach for teams like Bills and Patriots
• Born 1924 in Brookfield, Illinois
• Played college football at Indiana University

Despite the same last name, Nick and Lou do not appear to be directly related. But their shared surname has caused some confusion over the years. Keep reading to learn more!

Nick Saban grew up in a close-knit Croatian community in West Virginia. His father Nick Sr.‘s family came from a small village called Dragano Polje near Karlovac in Croatia. The Saban‘s were one of many Croatian families that immigrated to West Virginia in the early 1900s to work in coal mines.

According to census records, Nick Sr. was born in 1921 in Monongah, West Virginia to Croatian immigrant parents Ivan "John" Saban and Anna Bajich. Growing up in this tight-knit ethnic neighborhood had a big impact on Nick‘s upbringing.

Meanwhile, Lou Saban‘s roots trace back to Illinois. He was born in 1924 in Brookfield to Matteo and Terese Saban, who appear to be of Italian descent based on census records. In high school, Lou starred in baseball, basketball and football. After a stint in the U.S. Army during World War II, he played college football at Indiana University.

From his roots in Illinois to his college days in Indiana, Lou Saban does not appear to have any direct Croatian lineage like Nick‘s family. So while both had immigrant grandparents, their ethnic backgrounds and upbringings were quite different.

Despite no relation, both Sabans went on to have phenomenal coaching careers that sometimes intertwined:

Nick Saban‘s Coaching Highlights:

• NCAA Championships: 6 (LSU 2003, Alabama 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2020)
• SEC Championships: 7
• Career College Record: 274-65-1 (.809 win percentage)
• Heisman Winners Coached: 3

Lou Saban‘s Coaching Highlights:

• AFL/NFL Championships: 2
• Overall NFL Record: 97-101-7
• Overall College Record: 94-99-2
• Coached Bills to back-to-back AFL titles in 1964-65

So while Nick has more collegiate success, Lou earns bragging rights for his two professional championships coaching the Bills.

One memorable on-field meeting was in the mid-1960s when a young Nick Saban was an assistant with the AFL‘s Denver Broncos coached by Lou Saban‘s Bills teams. Facing his more experienced namesake was intimidating for Nick early in his career.

Based on their overall records, Nick certainly compiled more overall wins and championships. But both left an indelible mark on football history across both the college and pro levels.

So if Nick Saban and Lou Saban weren‘t related, how did they end up with the same last name?

The surname Saban has its roots in the large wave of immigration from Croatia in the late 19th century. It comes from the common Croatian surname Šaban or Šeban. Many families changed the spelling to Saban after settling in America.

According to Ancestry.com‘s surname database, Saban is the 3,743rd most common name in the United States. Approximately 9 in every 100,000 Americans have the Saban surname.

While Saban isn‘t an ultra rare name, the fact two successful football coaches shared it has made many wonder if they might somehow be distant relatives. But extensive searches through census records, birth certificates, and immigration paperwork provides no evidence of a family connection between Nick and Lou.

In the end, it seems to simply be an interesting coincidence rather than family relation. Two men with a shared heritage brought the distinguished Saban name to football glory.

Nick Saban is currently in his 16th straight season leading the Alabama Crimson Tide. His tenure in Tuscaloosa has included some mind-blowing accomplishments:

• 6 National Championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020) – tied for most ever
• 12 Straight 10-Win Seasons (2007-2018)
• 14 Bowl Game Wins with only 2 losses
• 5 Consensus All-American Players (Julio Jones, Barrett Jones, Cody Mandell, Landon Collins, Minkah Fitzpatrick)

Saban‘s expert recruiting and development has made Alabama a factory for NFL talent. Under his tutelage, a stunning 56 players have been selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. That includes major stars like:

• Julio Jones, WR – Atlanta Falcons
• Amari Cooper, WR – Dallas Cowboys
• Derrick Henry, RB – Tennessee Titans

At 70 years old, Saban shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to adapt and find new ways to motivate his teams. His six national titles leaves no doubt he is one of the greatest coaches in college football history.

Nick Saban takes great pride in his Croatian roots. As mentioned earlier, his paternal grandfather Ivan "John" Saban came to America in the early 1900s from the village of Dragano Polje near Karlovac. Many Croatian immigrants settled together in West Virginia coal mining towns.

Nick was immersed in Croatian culture and customs from a young age. In interviews, he‘s shared how this tight-knit upbringing ingrained a sense of discipline, community and hard work that has stuck with him throughout his career.

In 1971, Nick married his wife Terry while attending Kent State. She has been by his side through all his coaching stops. They have two children, Nicholas and Kristen Saban, who have pursued careers outside of sports.

Let‘s recap the key differences between these two iconic football coaches:

• Primary Coaching Area: Nick mainly college, Lou mainly pro
• Championships: Nick has 6 college titles, Lou has 2 pro titles
• Overall Record: Nick is 274-65 career in college, Lou is 97-101-7 in NFL
• Highest Salary: Nick makes ~$9 million at Alabama; Lou‘s highest salary is estimated around $150,000 in 1960s.
• Schools Coached: Nick has been at major programs like Alabama and LSU for career. Lou also coached smaller schools like Western Illinois.

So while their paths to coaching success were quite different, Nick and Lou Saban will forever be bonded by their shared name and passion for football. But in researching their family trees, no direct relation can be found.

Their overlapping careers will always prompt sports fans to ask: "Hey, are Nick and Lou Saban related?" As their biographies show, the answer is no, but the confusion is understandable given their iconic shared surname.

I hope this thorough guide has helped explain the relationship between these two famous football figures! Let me know if you need any more details on the Sabans and I‘ll keep digging.

Sincerely,

Lillie Gabler
Home Improvement Expert