As he began his second season, there was a sense of anticipation around the franchise’s current momentum. There would be a failure on the part of the team to satisfy expectations. When the Miami Dolphins were able to acquire free agency quarterback Drew Bree’s , who many believed would not recover from a significant shoulder injury, they instead signed Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper was benched after the Dolphins struggled to a 1-6 record in their second game of the season. The club would never recover. As a result, the Hurricanes concluded with a 6-10 record, which was Saban ‘s first losing season as a head coach. This would be Saban’s last season as head coach of the Dolphins. Despite several public denials that he was connected to the Alabama coaching position, Saban finally accepted the position on January 3, 2007.At LSU, where he coached for five seasons, Saban had his first experience coaching in the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers finished with a 48-16 record, two SEC titles, and a victory against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2003 BCS Championship Game under Saban’s guidance. LSU’s championship season was completed in the manner that has come to be expected from Saban. The Tigers boasted an impenetrable defense that ranked first in the NCAA in terms of points allowed per game and total yards allowed per game (252 yards). A school-record seven touchdowns were scored in 2003 by the defense, which limited 13 of LSU’s 14 opponents to less than 20 points per game. Moreover, the Tigers of 2003 were among the most talented offensive teams the school has ever seen. In that season, LSU set a school record with 475 points scored and averaged over 34 points per game, thanks to the efforts of quarterback Matt Mauck, running back Justin Vincent, and wide receivers Michael Clayton and Devery Henderson.

Saban’s 48 victories were the most ever achieved by an LSU coach in his first five years in charge of the Tigers’ football team. After the 2004 season, Saban decided to leave LSU for the National Football League. On December 25, 2004, he took a position with the Miami Dolphins. Coach George Perles had been suspended by the NCAA for recruiting infractions before to Saban’s entrance at Michigan State in 1995. Prior to Saban’s arrival at Michigan State, the Spartans had not had a winning season since 1990. After five seasons with a 34-24-1 record, he decided to leave the programmer. Saban’s first three years as head coach of the programmer were unremarkable in any way. His first season resulted in a 6-5-1 record for the Spartans, who went on to have 6-6 and 7-5 seasons after that. After an upset victory against No. 1 Ohio State and a blowout of a highly-ranked Notre Dame squad, the Spartans seemed to be on their way to another winning season, but they faltered down the line and finished with a 6-6 record.

His last season at East Lansing was also Saban’s most successful season in the programmed. Michigan State ended with a 10-2 record, which was the greatest result for the Spartans since 1965. The Spartans defeated Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State throughout the season. Prior to the team’s bowl game, however, Saban revealed that he would be leaving the school to take a position at LSU’s football programmed. Saban’s first head coaching opportunity came at the University of Toledo, where he spent two seasons. He took the position on December 22, 1989, after serving as defensive backs coach for the Houston Oilers for the previous two seasons. In his first season as head coach, Saban took over a club that had finished 6-5 in back-to-back seasons. He guided the Rockets to a 9-2 record and a share of the Mid-American Conference championship. Immediately after the 1990 season, Saban accepted a position as defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns, under the direction of Bill Belichick. As of the conclusion of the 2016 college football season, Saban has a lifetime record of 205-61-1 in his respective sports. In terms of lifetime winning percentage, he has the greatest mark among all current Division I head football coaches with a.770 record.