Retired seven-time national champion head coach Nick Saban has purchased a minority stake in the Nashville Predators, along with billionaire Joe Agresti, as part of the contingency, Dream Sports Ventures LLC, the team announced in a press release shared on its official website.

“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” Saban said. “Being involved in a sports team in Nashville has always been a goal and the opportunity to partner in the Predators with a class act like Bill Haslam created the perfect scenario for us. The Preds are a great organization with a fantastic brand, and we are excited to be part of the future success of the franchise.”

Saban and Agresti already have a partnership in several business ventures, most notably Dream Motor Group, which has 10 dealerships, including two in Nashville reported to be among the top luxury car dealerships in the state of Tennessee.

“I am really looking forward to having Coach Nick Saban and Joe Agresti as a part of our ownership group,” said Predators chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam. “Coach is one of the all-time greats in college football history and one of the winningest coaches in all of sports. We are excited to have him join us in our pursuit of championships on the ice in Nashville.”

Saban, who has since contributed to ESPN's College GameDay as an analyst, announced his retirement from coaching in January 2024. The 74-year-old retired with a 292-71-1 college football head coaching record, which included one national championship at LSU and six at Alabama.

Dave 'Softy' Mahler and Dick Fain