Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban has purchased a minority stake in the Nashville Predators, the National Hockey League announced on Tuesday.
“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” Saban said in a release from the league. “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 for us. The Preds are a great organization with a fantastic brand, and we are excited to be part of the future success of the franchise.”
In July, Saban spoke to the team’s top prospects at the Predators’ development camp.
Franchise chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam said Saban and Joe Agresti, through Dream Sports Ventures, had joined the NHL franchise’s ownership group, which also includes a group of season-ticket holders and Nashville-area residents.
“I am really looking forward to having coach Nick Saban and Joe Agresti as a part of our ownership group,” Haslam said. “Coach is one of the all-time greats in college football history and one of the winningest coaches in all of sports. We are excited to have him join us in our pursuit of championships on the ice in Nashville.”
Saban and Agresti are partners in several business ventures, including Dream Motor Group, which has two automotive dealerships in Nashville – Mercedes-Benz of Music City and Prancing Horse of Nashville.
Saban served as Alabama’s football coach from the 2007 through the 2023 seasons. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last week.
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The Predators are in their 28th NHL season. At 13-15-4, Nashville is at the bottom of the Central Division of the Western Conference with 30 points.