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World's Greatest Leaders

Why Alabama’s Nick Saban Is One of the World’s Greatest Leaders

By
Brian O'Keefe
Brian O'Keefe
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By
Brian O'Keefe
Brian O'Keefe
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March 24, 2016, 2:30 PM ET

The staff of Fortune and a panel of experts recently assembled our annual list of the World’s Greatest Leaders. Here’s a profile of one of them.

The dynasty was over. That was the consensus of the pundits after Alabama’s 43–37 loss to Ole Miss in its third game of the season last September. The famed “process” that Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, 64, had used to win three national titles in football at Bama—while boosting graduation rates—and one at LSU had run its course, and the competition had caught up. Saban challenged his team: “How are you going to respond?” When Alabama defeated Clemson 45–40 for another title on Jan. 11, 2016, he had his answer, and the dynasty—and Saban’s legacy as a leader—remained intact.

For more on Nick Saban, read Brian O’Keefe’s 2012 profile of the coach.

This article is part of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders list, our annual directory of world-changing leaders in business, government, philanthropy and beyond. Click here to see the entire package.

 

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By Brian O'Keefe
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