Even with Nick Saban’s legendary run in the rearview mirror, his impact on college football still echoes. While Coach Saban gears up for his next chapter on Game Day, his daughter Kristen Saban remains his ultimate hype woman. She’s always there to share his wins and those sweet family moments with her online crew, never backing down from a bit of playful banter with Bama critics. But right now, the spotlight’s off the field and squarely on her home front. Kristen’s celebrating a major five-year mark for her son, James Nickolas Setas. Remember that little guy learning the ropes of baseball from his legendary football coach grandpa? Yep, that toddler’s now a soccer star in the making, and Kristen is bursting with proud mama vibes. Because when it comes to kids, a mom’s love hits different.

April 27th rolled around, marking James’s 5th birthday, and Kristen Saban was all in on making it special. She threw a sweet celebration right there on the field after James and his buddies wrapped up their soccer game. She even shared a heartwarming snap on her IG story, captioning it, “Post-soccer birthday celebration: James is officially five.” But she didn’t stop there.

Kristen hopped back on IG with a carousel of James’s journey, from tiny newborn to energetic five-year-old. And you know she had a perfect caption to go with it: “James Nickolas Setas, you are the joy of my life. Happy 5th birthday, big boy! There’s no one like you. ♥️” That pretty much sums up her love for him. Being a mom in the spotlight, especially with a famous last name, has thrown some curveballs. The 2020 pandemic, hitting right when James was born, definitely made early motherhood a unique challenge. But she just powered right through it.

From the second James came along, Kristen’s been all in on every bit of being his mom. Whether it’s those sweet moments admiring him asleep, sharing a story with “His Little Freckles,” or showing their goofy side trying (and totally failing) to get a picture. She even captioned the chaos with a funny “Pls take one pic with me.” You can almost see James’s unspoken ‘No’ in that picture as he’s making a getaway.

Well, James isn’t Kristen’s first baby. Nope, that title belongs to Gunner, her beloved dog, whom she sadly lost last year. She poured out her grief in a raw IG post: “I had to say goodbye to my first baby yesterday after 14 years of the most magical companionship. If you knew Gunner, you loved him as much as I did. He was my little light of joy that I connected with from the moment I saw him. All dogs go to heaven, and I’m so thankful for the time spent together, a lot of it in my arms. I couldn’t have asked for a better pup. I’ll miss you forever, Gunnies.”

Even now, Kristen feels Gunner’s absence. But in between her mommy duties with James, she’s still very much her daddy’s girl, always his loudest cheerleader.

Kristen Saban is hyping Nick Saban’s legacy

Kristen Saban? Total Daddy’s hype woman. Whether it’s celebrating milestones like the Bryant-Denny Stadium field dedication or Nick Saban’s ESPY Icon Award, she makes sure his achievements don’t go unnoticed. Her latest move? Showing love for Nick Saban’s draft dominance. We all know Saban’s track record is insane: 292-71-1 (.804) across the board. Even at 73, he’s still a major force in both college and pro football, staying relevant with his Game Day presence.

Let’s be real, Nick Saban’s influence goes way beyond college ball. His coaching journey, starting as a defensive back in the ’70s, quickly shot him to the top. After his first head coaching gig in 1990, his defenses under Earle Bruce at Ohio State were monsters, allowing just 15.1 points per game in 1980 and 21.1 in 1981. His career just kept climbing, hitting that incredible 80.4% win rate, making him the active wins leader and sixth all-time among FBS coaches.

So, it’s no surprise Kristen Saban is super proud of her dad’s legendary college and pro football career. Just recently, on April 24th, she shared an IG story highlighting his “DRAFT DAY DOMINANCE,” showing off Saban’s crazy success in sending players to the NFL. The post made it clear: Saban’s draft impact is off the charts. The numbers back it up: “Nick Saban had more 1st round draft picks (44) than losses (29) while at Alabama.”

Yeah, those 44 first-round picks, including big names like Andre Smith, Rolando McClain, Julio Jones, and Tua Tagovailoa, speak volumes about his draft record. While programs like Georgia and Ohio State have impressive numbers, Saban’s are just on another level. Kristen clearly loves making her dad feel special, and she’s not afraid to have a little fun with him too.

Remember back in December? Kristen, the fashion-savvy daughter, hyped up her dad’s hat merch, but with a playful twist. She pointed out a bunch of similar hats on Amazon, calling him “Nick, the influencer,” and teasing, “don’t you all worry, you already know I am making a roundup of hats for you.” They’ve got that classic father-daughter banter down. Even with all her mommy duties, she’s still her dad’s little girl at heart.