Verge Ausberry shoots down idea of Nick Saban becoming next LSU coach: 'Miss Terry's not gonna let him'

While the rumor mill churns about whether Nick Saban could return to coaching at LSU, the Tigers’ interim athletics director shot down that chatter. Verge Ausberry said he does not believe Saban will return to the sidelines.

Ausberry told Matt Moscona on ESPN Baton Rouge that he talks to Saban regularly and gets the sense the legendary coach will not coach again. He also joked Miss Terry would have something to say about Saban thinking about getting back in the game.

That’s why Ausberry wanted to get in front of the rumors about whether Saban could replace Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge. In fact, if he did want to come back, Ausberry said he’d personally escort him back to campus.

“Nick Saban and I have a standing conversation probably every two to three weeks,” Ausberry said. “We’re good friends, first of all. A person that I admire a lot. Coach Saban was joking. No way he’s coming back to football, okay? Miss Terry’s not gonna let him.

“That’s not gonna happen. Let’s get that out of the way soon, because if he was and he was interested, I will go drive and pick him up right now and bring him back. … I think that has run its course, okay?”

In what’s shaping up to be a historically active coaching carousel, there’s been plenty of speculation about whether Saban could leave retirement and come back. The former LSU and Alabama coach is in his second year on ESPN’s College GameDay and won an Emmy for his performance in his debut season in 2024.

But that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning. LSU legend Shaquille O’Neal added to it this week, stating the Tigers were having conversations with Saban about the opening. But while speaking with On3’s Chris Low last week, the legendary coach said he has not felt the temptation to come back.

“It’s not good for player development. I don’t know that it’s good for anything, just the direction we’re headed,” Saban said of the current landscape. “We’re letting G League players come play in college? Pretty soon, we’re going to have the New York Giants’ backup quarterback not getting enough development, so we’re going to send him to Penn State or somewhere else for a year to play.

“It’s crazy, absolutely crazy. Why not make these kids professionals, treat them like professionals and collective bargain the whole thing?”