Nick Saban has added a new title to his résumé. Team owner.

Photo credit: Getty Images

The retired college football legend has purchased a minority stake in the NHL’s Nashville Predators, the franchise announced Tuesday. Saban made the investment alongside longtime business partner Joe Agresti, marking his first move into professional sports ownership.

“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” Saban said in a statement. “Being involved in a sports team in Nashville has always been a goal, and the opportunity to partner in the Predators with a class act like Bill Haslam created the perfect scenario.”

Smashville just got that much better 👏

Nick Saban and partner Joe Agresti have joined the #Preds ownership group via Dream Sports Ventures LLC with a minority stake in the franchise!

📝 » https://t.co/6Y5EK0I6qA pic.twitter.com/1FXqW4O5tx

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 16, 2025

Saban praised the organization’s brand and leadership, adding that he and Agresti are excited to be part of the franchise’s future.

The move may surprise some who expected Saban to land in NFL ownership circles, but the NHL offers a more accessible entry point and fewer complications. The investment also helps Saban avoid potential conflicts of interest, an issue that has hovered around him as his post-coaching career has evolved.

For the Predators, the addition of Saban brings star power and credibility, even if he will not be involved in day-to-day hockey decisions. Nashville has long been considered one of the NHL’s southern success stories, carving out a strong fan base in a nontraditional market.

While the Predators have missed the playoffs in two of the past three seasons, the franchise enjoyed a strong run throughout the 2010s, highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. The organization remains well-regarded across the league for its stability and identity.

Saban stepping into ownership feels fitting. Coaching may be behind him, but competition clearly is not. And now, instead of prowling the sidelines, he will be watching from a suite, invested in wins and losses in a whole new way.