Alabama’s Nick Saban Teams Up with Habitat for Humanity to Build Homes

Saban’s Non-Profit Has Helped Build a Home for a Needy Family for Each Alabama National Championship Since 1925

The Crimson Tide won its 17th national championship title in thrilling overtime in January 2018. After the win, Coach Nick Saban did what he’s done since 2012 for every championship title: he helped Habitat for Humanity start building a house.

According to nola.com, in 2012, after Saban won his third Alabama national championship, his non-profit, Nick’s Kids Foundation, formed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Together, 17 Habitat-built houses have become homes for needy families — one to commemorate every national championship Alabama has won stretching back to 1925.

Saban, considered by many to be the greatest coach college coach of all time, started coaching for the University of Alabama in 2007, four months before a tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa. He built a formidable team off the field, bringing together architects, engineers and local companies to help rebuild the community, and Nick’s Kids Foundation made a $50,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity. During Saban’s tenure at Alabama, he’s earned enough rings to fill one hand and enough homes to fill one block.

The luxury of time to design and build was trumped by the desire to get Donna Smith and her family, including her son with spina bifida, into a home quickly. Alabama news station WBRC interviewed Habitat for Humanity’s Ellen Potts not long after the 17th win: “We chose the (Smith) family on a Thursday; Friday, we met to choose the floor plan. On Saturday, our construction director did the (ADA) redesign of the house; by Monday, we had the plans. Tuesday got the building permit. And, on Wednesday, we poured footing.”

Donna Smith, who was already a Crimson Tide fan, said of the experience: “From a fan’s perspective, (the win over Georgia) was awesome. And from this perspective, it’s just overwhelming.”

If you don’t watch college football, the name “Nick Saban” might not mean anything to you. But to countless Alabama fans, it means “winner.” To 17 Alabama families, it means “home.”