Saban effect? SEC coaches’ average tenures not great when compared to other Power 5 conferences

Are coaches scared of coming to the SEC?

It’s a question worth pondering when one considers the relatively short lifespan of SEC coaches in comparison to coaches in other conferences.

Perhaps they aren’t scared of the competition, more so the pressure.

The average tenure of an SEC coach is just 2.6 seasons, according to Berry Tramel, a sports columnist for The Oklahoman.

That’s not a very long time to get things rolling. Of all the Power Five conferences, the SEC gives its coaches the shortest amount of time to prove themselves.

The Pac-12 is next-lowest in the Power Five when it comes to average tenure. Its coaches get an average of 3.9 seasons.

The Big 12, which appears to be the most lenient Power Five conference on the spectrum, is comprised of coaches with an average tenure of six seasons.

This is a pretty interesting stat. It was pointed out on Twitter Monday by George Schroeder of USA TODAY Sports, who referred to it as the “Saban Effect.”

For the past decade, SEC coaches have been trying to chase Alabama’s Nick Saban.

And while polishing his national championship trophies, Saban has seen quite a few of them fail.

This from @BerryTramel is interesting:
Average tenures of coaches in the Power Five (or Saban Effect in full effect):

Big 12: 6.0 seasons
Big Ten: 4.7 seasons
ACC: 4.7 seasons
Pac-12: 3.9 seasons
SEC: 2.6 seasons

— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) December 11, 2017

Cody McClure

Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.