Nick Saban Opens Up About Heartbreaking Personal Loss

Alabama’s legendary head coach Nick Saban announced the tragic loss of a close family member on Thursday, and the Crimson Tide nation is coming out to show its support for their longtime leader. The outpouring of affection highlights the deep connections that sport can build beyond the field.

Mary Saban Pasko, Saban’s mother, passed away at the age of 92, according to an obituary obtained by various news outlets. The avid sports junkie and her husband Nick raised two children, Dene (Leroy) Thompson and Nick (Terry) Saban, and she lived long enough to enjoy the company of four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Both her husband Nick and second husband Bobby Pasko previously passed away. In a heartfelt statement, Saban expressed that “there is no greater love than that of a mother,” evoking the essentials of family during difficult times.

Members of the Saban clan began leaving their tributes online as the news spread. Kristen Saban, in a post on Instagram, shared a photo of her grandmother along with a clip of her favorite song, “Heaven by Noon.” Such personal gestures illustrate the legacy of love and support woven throughout the Saban family and their community.

Born in 1932, Mary was raised in Michigan but spent most of her formative years in the small town of Farmington, West Virginia. She married her first husband Nick after the two struck up a relationship while classmates at Farmington High School. Saban’s father not only played baseball at his high school but also founded the town’s first Pop Warner football league, setting the stage for the athletic legacy that would follow in his son’s footsteps. In a recent interview, Saban reflected on the instrumental role his parents played in shaping his career, stating, “My mom was always my biggest supporter, believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Mary encouraged her son Nick to play with Dene, who he always admitted was the better athlete, on the Pop Warner Black Diamond Football team. Their mother manned the concession stand, decorated the team bus, and stayed close by while both boys lived their love of the game that would come to define Nick Saban’s legacy. The family asked supporters to consider donating to Nick’s Kids Foundation at nickskidsfoundation.org, reflecting Mary Saban’s commitment to community support and charitable giving.

Saban used his upbringing to launch a collegiate football career at Kent State where he played football and baseball for the Golden Flashes from 1970 to 1972. He played in the safety position during the team’s 1972 MAC Championship appearance, where they lost to the University of Tampa in the Tangerine Bowl. In reflecting upon those formative years, Saban emphasized the crucial lessons learned from both victories and defeats, remarking, “Every experience shapes who you are as a player and a person, and I owe much of that to my upbringing.” After his playing career ended, Saban coached for eight years in the NFL, including under future Patriots coach Bill Belichick at the Cleveland Browns, before making his way back to college athletics.

Saban has been at the helm of the Crimson Tide since 2007 and has attained an almost mythic status while coaching Alabama to the BCS and AP national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, as well as College Football Playoff championships in 2015, 2017, and 2020. Among head coaches, he is unparalleled, with a record of 292–71–1, indicating his sustained excellence and ability to evolve with the game. Sports analyst Kirk Herbstreit once remarked, “Nick Saban doesn’t just build teams; he builds dynasties,” underscoring Saban’s profound impact on college football.