![\"Skip](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SXAITOEUJJCMFB25QGLN4Z3TYI.jpg\")
Skip Bertman, a former college baseball coach and athletic director at Louisiana State University.(MGN (Custom credit) | MGN Image (Credit))<\/p>\nBATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Nick Saban says Skip Bertman gave him the right advice before he left LSU for the NFL. He just didn\u2019t take it.<\/p>\n
Before Saban left LSU for the Miami Dolphins, Bertman urged him to consider whether he wanted to build his legacy in college or professional football.<\/p>\n
More than two decades later, Saban says Bertman was right.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I thought about it, I wanted my legacy to be as a college coach, and I took the job anyway,\u201d Saban told WAFB\u2019s Jacques Doucet. \u201cSo, that was a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSkip was 100% right. I just didn\u2019t listen to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skip Bertman, a former college baseball coach and athletic director at Louisiana State University.(MGN (Custom credit) | MGN Image (Credit))<\/p>\n
Saban spoke with WAFB following Bertman\u2019s death<\/a> Friday morning. The legendary LSU baseball coach and former athletic director died at 88.<\/p>\n Saban became LSU\u2019s football coach in 2000. Bertman, who was completing his final season as LSU baseball coach, became the university\u2019s athletic director in 2001.<\/p>\n The two championship coaches worked together as LSU football returned to national prominence.<\/p>\n Saban led the Tigers to the 2003 national championship. LSU then agreed to a new seven-year contract with Saban in February 2004, with Bertman calling him \u201cthe finest coach in America.\u201d<\/p>\n Saban announced in December 2004 that he was leaving LSU after five seasons to become head coach of the Miami Dolphins.<\/p>\n Bertman said at the time<\/a> that LSU had done everything it could to keep Saban, who had changed his mind several times before ultimately accepting the NFL job.<\/p>\n Saban rejected any suggestion that Bertman failed to do enough to keep him in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n \u201cI never ever once thought Skip wasn\u2019t doing everything he could to try to keep me to stay at LSU,\u201d Saban said. \u201cAnd I liked working with him. So, that was never a thought for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Saban said Bertman\u2019s influence reached far beyond the decision about his coaching future.<\/p>\n \u201cSkip was an icon as a coach,\u201d Saban said. \u201cI think his knowledge of human behavior, how to motivate people, how to get the best out of people, his leadership style was unique and obviously as successful as anybody in our profession, in any sport.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had a great relationship with him. I loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n REMEMBERING SKIP BERTMAN<\/p>\n \u2018We raised $15 million\u2019<\/p>\n Saban pointed to LSU\u2019s Academic Center for Student-Athletes as an example of Bertman\u2019s ability to turn an idea into action.<\/p>\n Saban said LSU did not have a dedicated academic center when he arrived in Baton Rouge. He recalled being told it could take two years to obtain funding from the Louisiana Legislature.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need one to help these kids graduate,\u201d Saban recalled telling Bertman.\u201cHe said, \u2018Well, let\u2019s go and raise the money. We\u2019ll do it in three months.\u2019 We raised $15 million, built the place.\u201d<\/p>\n According to LSU, the $15 million Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes was spearheaded by the Tiger Athletic Foundation and dedicated in November 2002.<\/p>\n Saban said Bertman was still preparing to leave baseball at the time, but was already focused on the needs of the entire university.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wanted to do what was best for the kids and the program and LSU, and he was just fantastic to work with,\u201d Saban said.<\/p>\n \u2018They were a great team\u2019<\/p>\n Saban also reflected on the relationship between his wife, Terry, and Bertman\u2019s wife, Sandy.<\/p>\n Sandy Bertman died in March 2025 after 63 years of marriage to Skip Bertman.<\/p>\n Saban said the two families had a close relationship and that Sandy helped Terry learn how to support coaches, staff members and their families.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were always supportive and helpful,\u201d Saban said. \u201cBoth of them were just a wealth of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey were a great team.\u201d<\/p>\n Saban described Bertman as a coach, leader and athletic director who understood how to motivate people while bringing them together.<\/p>\n \u201cI just always had a tremendous amount of respect for Skip as a person, as a coach, as a leader, as an athletic director. He\u2019s an icon. And I think he\u2019ll always be remembered as that.\u201d<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to report a typo. Please include the headline.<\/p>\n![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SERUCS3TDBBODD5KMZ2DXVOZKQ.jpg\")
FILE – In this Sept. 11, 2004, file photo, LSU coach Nick Saban encourages his players before an NCAA college football game against Arkansas State in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo\/Patrick Dennis, File)(Patrick Dennis | AP)<\/p>\n