Three American football coaching greats of Croatian descent exit in 48 hours
In a surprising turn of events, three legendary American football coaches with Croatian roots—Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, and Pete Carroll—left their coaching positions within a span of just 48 hours.
Bill Belichick’s End of an Era with the Patriots
Bill Belichick, the iconic head coach of the New England Patriots, recently announced his departure after an illustrious 24-season career.
Belichick had unmatched success in NFL history, which includes six Super Bowl titles. He traces his Croatian heritage back to his grandparents, Ivan Bilicic and Marija Barkovic, who immigrated to the United States over a century ago.
Belichick previously shared a touching family story, emphasising the Croatian influence on his upbringing. He expressed pride in his heritage, recounting a visit to his grandparents’ homeland in Draganić, near Karlovac.
“My grandfather emigrated and got his citizenship (US) in 1915. My grandfather came over by himself; he was married to Mary (Marija) and came over to work in the coal or steel mills in western Pennsylvania. After two years, Mary decided to come over and look for him. She got on a boat and came to the United States, and so they were kind of reunited then and started the family,” Belichick explained.
Belichick with the Croatian flag on his chest (Screenshot)
“In my grandmother’s household, there was not much English spoken. My dad understood Croatian, and my mom learned it very quickly, so she loved talking to my grandmother, her brother, and other Croatians who would be in the house in Croatian. To tell you the truth, I didn’t know what was going on unless someone talked to me in English,” he said, adding that his son, Stephen, has a Croatian tattoo on his arm.
Bill’s father, Steve Belichick (born Stephen Bilicic), played for the Detroit Lions and was an assistant coach and scout with the United States Naval Academy football team for 33 years.
Belichick’s exit coincided closely with another coaching legend, Nick Saban, making a significant decision.
Nick Saban Bids Adieu to Alabama After 17 Seasons
Less than 24 hours before Belichick’s announcement, Nick Saban declared his retirement from coaching at the University of Alabama after an impressive 17-year stint. Saban, a coaching maestro, emphasised the special place Alabama holds in his heart, focusing on the legacy he and his wife, Terry, built both on and off the field.
Saban’s Croatian ancestry, traced back to his grandfather, Stanko Saban, added a personal touch to his coaching journey. Stanko Saban was born in Gospić, in Croatia’s Lika region, and he emigrated to Portland, Oregon, in 1908, when he was 13 years old. He later married Anna Mihalic, of Croatian-American heritage.
Nick Saban (Photo credit: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, Public domain)
His retirement marked the end of an era for Alabama football, leaving behind a legacy of seven national titles and a profound impact on countless players.
Pete Carroll Exits Seattle Seahawks
Completing the trio of coaching exits, Pete Carroll bid farewell after 14 seasons as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. While the 72-year-old coach transitioned into an advisory role, he expressed a strong desire to continue coaching. Carroll’s emotional farewell revealed his fierce dedication to the team’s success.
Carroll, with Croatian roots from his maternal grandparents who immigrated from the Šibenik area, is known for his remarkable coaching career, including a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks and a college football national championship with USC.
Pete Carroll (Photo credit: Mike Morris/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)
When asked by a reporter what he thought were the similarities and differences between himself and Belichick with regards to coaching style and how he viewed the game, Carrol responded.
“But not about our heritage and our background at all? (You never mention it.). I just like pointing out that we have a few similar backgrounds and that we both have a lot of Croatian blood in us. For whatever reason, nobody ever mentions that.”
In a unique clash of the ‘Croatian’ coaches, Carroll and Belichick faced off in Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, showcasing the global impact of Croatian heritage in the world of American football.
As these coaching legends step away from their roles, their Croatian heritage and the impact they’ve made on the sport will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant chapter in football history.
