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Nick Saban seems to be enjoying his first offseason of retirement. The legendary Alabama head coach highlighted his summer with a holiday trip to his $11M lake house in Georgia.
There, he was photographed with family and friends as the group took in a few days on the water. A number of followers noticed something different about Nick Saban during those 4th of July festivities.
Those that followed his 28-year coaching career are familiar with his always-professional sideline look. Saban showed up to the facility weekly in suit and tie before changing into a pair of khaki slacks and one of his many Crimson Tide polos for kickoff.
Keeping with the theme, the head coach was always clean-shaven while leading his team onto the field.
Now, studies show that a clean shave can make one be “perceived as friendly, approachable, and youthful” by peers. That would certainly be helpful in a recruiting setting, though some of Saban’s past players and co-workers might debate the “friendly” tag.
Saban is also of the generation that didn’t believe facial hair to be an acceptable workplace look, as are most current college football head coaches, which explains why less than 15% of coaches sport scruff on the sidelines.
Now that he’s entered retirement, it seems he’s gotten a bit laxer. He was spotted rocking a beard during the 4th of July holiday!
Nick Saban spent the 4th of July at his $11M lake house.
Saban’s daughter, Kristen, posted a few photos from the vacation earlier this week.
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The head coach has facial hair!
The Sabans were seen celebrating the holiday on the water, with Nick unsurprisingly captaining the adventures. The family stayed on Lake Burton where the former head coach owns a secluded $11M home.
They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves!
Nick Saban, while retired from coaching, is still getting paid a cool $500K by the University of Alabama for his services as an “advisor.” The role appears to come with less stress than his previous title.
He wasn’t the only college football personality to enjoy his offseason holiday, with friend Deion Sanders also taking to the water for the 4th of July fireworks.
Saban’s trip was a bit lower key, with Coach Prime heading down to Miami to live “like royalty” on a massive yacht.
Still, each spent the break with family, putting aside any football-related duties for at least a few days.
Saban is enjoying the offseason, and his time away from the field. We’ll see if the beard makes another appearance when the Crimson Tide’s season kicks off.