MinnesotaSoxFan Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com After three days of emotional deliberations, personal and professional discussions with family members and close associates which tore Nick Saban in two directions, the Miami Dolphins have a new head coach. Saban decided Saturday to leave his comfort zone at LSU, a university for which he has great respect and fondness, and accept the task of rebuilding the Dolphins organization, ESPN.com has learned. The decision came after long Thursday and Friday sessions at his home in Baton Rouge, where he weighed his future with his wife, Terry, and his agent, Jimmy Sexton. The contract will be for five years and is worth $4.5 million-$5 million annually. Saban was to announce his decision, after apprising university officials and his players of it, at an evening news conference in Orlando. The contract will also provide Saban with near-absolute control over football-related decisions and allow him to help reshape the organization following a disastrous 2004 season. Saban on Wednesday was formally offered the Dolphins job and told Dolphins and school officials he might need a day or two to come to a decision. Clearly, he wanted a resolution before Christmas, when his team was scheduled to leave for its bowl game, but could not meet his original timetable because of his strong feelings for LSU. Sexton spent much of Wednesday meeting in Fort Lauderdale with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga discussing contract parameters. The two made what one source termed "significant progress" toward a deal, but an agreement wasn't struck. There remained some details to be hammered out and, more important, Saban needed time to examine the offer and review his own priorities. Sexton then hunkered down with Saban for nearly three days to discuss the options. On Friday morning, Huizenga flew to Baton Rouge for another round of meetings. He had hoped to bring Saban back to Miami with him on his private plane, but the coach reiterated that he needed more time. At no time, sources said, did LSU attempt to significantly augment Saban's contract. Two sources said that, at the outset of the process with Miami, school officials told Saban and Sexton how far they could go financially. There was never a formal counteroffer in an attempt to keep him in Baton Rouge. There are likely to be dramatic changes now in the Dolphins organization. Miami will hire a new team president to replace the much-respected Eddie Jones, who will retire in March, and the hiring of Saban could also end the tenure of general manager Rick Spielman, who has been a part of the search for the successor to Dave Wannstedt. It is anticipated that Saban would want to bring aboard his own general manager or personnel director to head the scouting department. One of the deal-breakers 11 months ago, when Saban rejected the Chicago Bears head coach job, was that he was not offered control over some staffing and personnel matters. Confidants of Saban have reiterated to ESPN.com that control, particularly in terms of acquiring players, was a more critical issue to him than finances. Saban began taking a hard look at the Miami job a year ago, when it appeared Wannstedt might be in trouble, following a second non-playoff season. A candidate for several NFL jobs since leaving the league to become head coach at Michigan State in 1994, Saban has always indicated he would return to the league only under optimum conditions. Part of his attraction to the job was that Huizenga is regarded around the league as an owner who does not meddle in football matters, who essentially gets out of the way and lets his coach do his job. The other intriguing element for Saban is the opportunity to rebuild a football organization to his own specifications. The Dolphins first huddled with Saban on Dec. 14, in a late-night meeting, and it was clear from the outset that he topped the Miami wish list. Teams officials also interviewed former Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell, currently a league vice president, and interim head coach Jim Bates for the position. But there was never any doubt that Saban was their man if a deal could be struck. Saban, 53, has enjoyed great success at LSU, and leaving the school would be a difficult decision for him. As late as Tuesday morning, even before he had the Dolphins offer in hand, he told athletic director Skip Bertman that he probably faced a tough call and praised the school for its commitment to him and his family. After rebuffing the Bears advances, Saban signed a new seven-year contract, making him the highest paid college head coach in the country. His team won the national championship in 2003 and, in five seasons in Baton Rouge, he compiled a 48-15 mark. The Tigers, who won their final six games this season to finish at 9-2, will face Iowa in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. In stints at LSU (2000-present), Michigan State (1995-99) and Toledo (1990), Saban had a record of 91-41-1. His previous NFL experience came as secondary coach with the Houston Oilers (1988-89) and the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns (1991-94), where he worked on the staff of longtime friend Bill Belichick. Apparently Miami this year is a better job oppurtunity, than the Bears last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxman352000 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 I think Nick is going to be a bust. Successful college coaches don't have a great track record in the NFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black jack Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 he's not just a college coach. he was a bill parcells and billicheck assistant. look for him to surround himself with a FO guy like scott pioli. not sure what their cap looks like, but the defense is getting old and the offense is ass. look for a 2-3 year window before he makes an impact if the cap is decent, maybe longer if they must purge cap problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com Apparently Miami this year is a better job oppurtunity, than the Bears last year. Hell, I wouldn't want to coach the Bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Actually...it's because the Dolphins gave control of the roster, whereas the Bears wouldn't. But, it's cool to completely ignore that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 I just hate the Bears is all. Never did like them. Don't really like the NFC North as a whole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Anythings better then Dave... Welcome Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxman352000 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Anythings better then Dave... Welcome Nick Dave was a horrible coach, not only that but his accent was horrible too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 I'm very happy with this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Actually...it's because the Dolphins gave control of the roster, whereas the Bears wouldn't. But, it's cool to completely ignore that... Miami is still a better option than Chicago.. anyways, hes not just some "college coach" who will bust in the NFL.. He has been in the NFL before and has worked with Bill Bellicheck.. He was a great choice, and I cant wait for the offseason now and to see who he hires and surrounds himself with and then draft time baybeeeee GO PHINS!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Just out of curiosity, what makes Miami a better coaching option than Chicago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 5 million a year is bulls*** by the way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Just out of curiosity, what makes Miami a better coaching option than Chicago? Where would you rather live in the winter, Miami or Chicago?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Where would you rather live in the winter, Miami or Chicago?? Alright I can see that, but that's about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Alright I can see that, but that's about it. That should not effect where you want to coach. In the AFC East, Saban will have to go up to Buffalo, New York, and New England, and will likely have to go to 2 of the 3 in the winter time each year, among other games where he will have to go, so it's not like by accepting the Miami job he is avoiding the cold. Like I said...that should be a non-factor. How much power and/or money you are offered from one place or the other is also huge in picking a spot, and should be priority #1 when looking at any job offer. From what I can tell, he was given a much better offer by Miami...therefore, he accepts that job. It's that simple. And he can't be worse then Wanne, can he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 That should not effect where you want to coach. In the AFC East, Saban will have to go up to Buffalo, New York, and New England, and will likely have to go to 2 of the 3 in the winter time each year, among other games where he will have to go, so it's not like by accepting the Miami job he is avoiding the cold. Like I said...that should be a non-factor. How much power and/or money you are offered from one place or the other is also huge in picking a spot, and should be priority #1 when looking at any job offer. From what I can tell, he was given a much better offer by Miami...therefore, he accepts that job. It's that simple. And he can't be worse then Wanne, can he? Even though you're a bills fan, I'd rather have you coach the phins then wanny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Just out of curiosity, what makes Miami a better coaching option than Chicago? 1- Miami has shown to be a far more succesful franchise in the past decade than Chicago. 2 - Miami Lifestlye >>> Chicago Lifestyle. 3 - Miami gave Saban total control. 4 - Miami has an owner that won't meddle in team affairs. 5 - Get a West Coast offensive co-ordinator like Brad Childress who's had previous success with A.J Feeley, and pick up a good RB and / or a good WR, and Miami could have an Atlanta like rebound year next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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