Nick Saban Praises Trump’s Executive Order on College Athlete Payments

Former head football coach of Alabama, Nick Saban, expressed his approval of President Donald Trump on Thursday after the president signed an executive order that introduces new limitations on payments to college athletes.

This order specifically prohibits athletes from receiving funds from outside sources. Interestingly, it does not establish any restrictions on payments made directly to university athletes from those same third-party sources.

Saban remarked, “I think President Trump’s executive order marks a significant move toward fostering an educational model. We’ve always been focused on creating opportunities for both men and women, whether they’re generating revenue or not, so they can grow personally, academically, and professionally if that’s the path they want to follow.”

He further added, “We need to focus on maintaining an education-based model here. So, do you believe the president has made a noteworthy step in that direction, or would you rather support a professional team at the university? I think most people would lean toward the former.”

The executive order clarifies that any sharing of revenue between universities and athletes must be structured in a way that safeguards women’s and non-revenue sports. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining, and ideally expanding, scholarship opportunities and athletic competitions at the university level.

While the initial announcement did not provide explicit details on the classification of these sports, Saban appeared confident that university athletics would remain protected.

“The clearinghouse exists to validate names, images, and likenesses—essentially assessing whether there’s real marketing value compared to how much was paid for that marketing opportunity,” Saban explained. “If that line is crossed, then it becomes payment for play. Some groups are raising funds to pay players without providing actual marketing services in return. That’s what this clearinghouse aims to regulate to maintain the competitive balance in college sports.”

In a candid moment, Saban acknowledged the financial realities of college athletics, saying, “I’m committed to keeping as many sports viable as possible, but we must recognize the financial constraints related to less profitable sports. People often label college sports as a business, but it’s more about revenue generation—specifically how two sports can fund the rest.”

Saban and Trump earlier connected in May to discuss the current landscape regarding university athletes and their opportunities. Notably, Saban decided to step down from coaching in 2024, citing a shift in culture.