Nick Saban Definitively Answers If He Would Return To Coaching

Nick Saban is now in his second season away from the sideline, but the seven-time national champion still can't shake the rumors that he might come back.

The latest speculation that Saban, 73, might ditch his ESPN College GameDay post for a head coaching gig intensified after Penn State fired head coach James Franklin earlier this month. However, it sounds like Nittany Lions fans shouldn't waste too much time hoping.

On Friday's episode of "The Pat McAfee Show," Saban shot down the possibility that he's looking to get back into coaching.

“You know, I want to stay retired,” Saban said, via On3. “I do not want (my agent Jimmy Sexton) anywhere near Miss Terry. Because when she hears some of these numbers, she gets interested. And I’m not interested.”

Saban also addressed Penn State specifically

McAfee asked Saban, his colleague on GameDay and a weekly guest on his show, about the Penn State opening, knowing how many PSU fans would welcome the former Alabama leader with open arms.

“No way," Saban told McAfee. "I have so much fun working with you. Why would I go do that?”

Mrs. Saban also said no

Saban's wife "Miss Terry" previously dismissed the possibility of her husband going to Happy Valley when McAfee brought it up on GameDay last week.

"“Look, Pat, I have no doubt if Nick wanted to go back to coaching, he could win his eighth national championship,” Miss Terry said. “But we’re having too much fun, and we wouldn’t want to take that opportunity away from all of our baby coaches, like Kirby (Smart) and Lane (Kiffin). I haven’t heard a number yet, Pat.”

What Penn State might be looking for in a new coach

During his appearance on McAfee's show last Friday, Saban provided some insight into what kind of a fit Penn State AD Pat Kraft might be looking for in James Franklin's potential replacement.

“Obviously, they’ve got to hire somebody that has a history of having some success — someone who knows how to develop a program, continue to win, and deal with success,” Saban said, via On3. “You know, one of the things that people talk about with James Franklin is, ‘He couldn’t win the big game.’ Well, how many people beat those teams? You know, people used to get on them about not beating us — but we didn’t get beat very much. So, I mean, there’s some give and take in all that. And James Franklin put them in a position to do that, because they weren’t in a position to do it before. He created an expectation that was really difficult for him to live up to, but he created it.

“So the next person is going to have to do the same thing, but then learn how to deal with success and get the program over the hump. So it’s going to have to be somebody who can win over the people who support the program, as well as win over the people that you need to get in the program, whether that’s coaches or players, to be able to get you to that level.”