Alabama athletics 2024 financial report: Alabama Lost Staggering Amount of Money After Nick Saban Departure

Just over a year ago, Alabama’s longtime head coach, Nick Saban, shocked the college football world by announcing his retirement.

The university quickly hired Kalen DeBoer, who had led Washington to a national title appearance, to take over the program. However, the transition away from Saban, who had brought six national titles to Tuscaloosa, resulted in a noticeable decline on the field, as the Crimson Tide ended DeBoer’s first season with a 9-4 record, capped off by a humiliating loss to the Michigan Wolverines.

As Alabama moved forward without Saban, both the football program and the university experienced significant financial setbacks. According to a report from 247Sports, the University of Alabama reported a $27.9 million loss for its athletics department during the 2023-24 fiscal year. Total operating revenues amounted to $234 million, but total operating expenses reached $262 million. The university explained in its report that the substantial net loss was largely attributed to one-time expenses related to the football coaching change.

While the football program still posted a profit, it represented a notable drop from previous years. Alabama’s football program made a $26.4 million profit, down from $46 million in 2023 and $52 million in 2022. Although football operating revenues rose from $129 million in 2023 to $140 million in 2024, the program’s operating expenses also increased significantly, from $83 million to $113 million. A large portion of the increased expenses came from coaches’ salaries, with Alabama spending $65 million in total, including $47 million for the football program alone, following Saban’s departure. The athletics department also faced a $12 million loss in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

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