Nick Saban says Skip Bertman was ‘100% right’ that leaving LSU was a mistake

Key Points:

• Nick Saban acknowledged that Skip Bertman gave him crucial advice to choose between building his legacy in college or professional football before Saban left LSU for the Miami Dolphins, advice Saban admits he did not follow and later considered a mistake.
• Bertman, a legendary LSU baseball coach and former athletic director, passed away at age 88, with Saban praising his leadership, motivational skills, and profound influence on LSU athletics and beyond.
• Saban highlighted Bertman's role in raising $15 million to build LSU’s Academic Center for Student-Athletes, demonstrating Bertman’s commitment to supporting student-athletes and the university’s broader needs.
• The two coaches worked closely during overlapping tenures at LSU, leading to a national championship for LSU football in 2003, with Bertman describing Saban as “the finest coach in America” before Saban’s departure to the NFL.
• Saban also reflected on the close personal and professional relationship between their families, noting the supportive partnership between Bertman and his wife Sandy, who passed away in March 2025.