Nick Saban, the legendary college football coach, has always been known for his demanding and tough approach with players, assistants, and everyone involved in his programs. In a 2013 interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Saban provided an honest reaction when asked why he is so tough on people.
“I don’t know if that’s fair that I’m really tough on people,” Saban said. “We create a standard for how we want to do things, and everybody gotta buy into that standard, or you really can’t have any team chemistry. Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.”
Saban’s emphasis on mental toughness was a defining characteristic of his teams during his tenure with the Alabama Crimson Tide and in his previous coaching positions. He believed that for a team to overcome opponents and achieve success, they must exhibit resilience and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
In one of his viral team talks at Alabama, Saban elaborated on the importance of mental toughness, stating, “The thing you have to do is you have to have toughness. You gotta be tougher than everybody that we play. But I’ve never stood up here, and all the time that I’ve been here, and never really defined toughness for you the way I’m going to define toughness to you because I’m talking about mental toughness, and I think everybody can relate to it.”
Saban’s unwavering commitment to building mentally tough teams contributed to his remarkable success as a college football coach. He concluded his career with a 292-71-1 record, winning seven national championships (one with LSU and six with Alabama), 12 conference championships, and 16 divisional titles. Saban’s dedication to excellence and his ability to push his players to their limits earned him numerous individual honors, including the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award twice.
