Nick Saban has stated repeatedly that he does not want to leave the University of Alabama (UA) and on of the school's most prominent athletics booster group is doing their part to cement the relationship.
According to AL.com, the Crimson Tide Foundation (CTF) bought the head coach's home from the Sabans in March 2013. Whereas Saban and his wife Terry bought the house in 2007 for $2.9 million and the fundraising organization paid $3.1 million.
The Sabans will still live in the house, but will not pay property taxes on it. On top of his seven million dollar salary, Saban probably will not find a better deal anywhere else.
"It's not all that unusual in the world for universities to provide the housing," Scott Phelps, assistant secretary of the CTF, told AL.com. "We want to keep him happy. We think he is the best coach in America."
Phelps said the university owned Paul "Bear" Bryant's home as well and the legendary coach continued to live in it after he retired, an offer Saban has been offered.
Saban has won three National Championships with Alabama and one with LSU and he has also won the SEC seven times between the two schools. In his 2003 championship campaign at LSU, Saban was also granted the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, recognizing the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's top coach.
Around the time the CTF was buying the home, the University of Texas was reportedly contacting Saban's agent to lure the coach to Austin. While the news of Texas' moves broke later on, news of the sale of Saban's home remained under wraps.
Phelps told AL.com buying Saban's home had no hidden motives, as the Tide coach has expressed continuously his desire to finish his career in Tuscaloosa. Earlier this year, Saban backed it up and signed a lucrative long-term contract extension.
