There is no current collegiate football coach more successful than Nick Saban yet after a single loss he spent time in the off-season looking for ways to improve -- ways that included change.
The head coach felt like he had to do something. After Alabama was stuffed on two 4th-and-short plays in the fourth quarter of last year's Iron Bowl against Auburn—a game that Alabama would lose 34-28—Nick Saban decided he needed to revamp his offense. Without telling his staff, Saban invited recently fired Lane Kiffin to Tuscaloosa for eight days last December to "brainstorm" and analyze the Tide's offense, especially its weaknesses.
The best coaches don't just develop their players, they develop all those in their program including their assistants.
"I want to be learning and growing. Coach Saban teaches his coaches every day." -Lane Kiffin
Benjamin Disraeli once said that "The secret to success is constancy to purpose." From my time at LSU, Coach Saban's laser-like focus was legendary.
"In all my time with Nick, I think we only had one conversation that wasn't about football. He's the most focused, driven person I've ever met." -Lane Kiffin
The best coaches have given great thought and detail to all aspects of their program. And many put it in writing.
Kiffin is learning Saban's template for running a program and literally reading Saban's book on winning, a nearly 200-page, bound document in which Saban details every aspect of running a program, from proper sleeping habits for players to nutrition and motivation.
