Saban, 53, is 9-2 this season and 48-15 in five years at LSU, taking his team to a bowl game every season. LSU went 3-8 the year before he arrived and 8-4 in his first season. An SEC title followed in 2001, and he led the Tigers to last season's BCS national championship.
"It's the most self-gratifying experience I've had as a coach," Saban said. "But I've always been driven by challenges - the next challenge that makes driven people want to take advantage of the next opportunity." 12/25/04 SEC Digital Network