Blake Sims’ apology to Nick Saban resurfaced on a podcast and highlights how his playing past continues to shape his coaching path.
Sims recounted the phone call on The DYNASTY podcast while describing his move back into coaching, and his path has taken him from Mt. Bethel Christian Academy to West Alabama and now Holmes Community College, as reported by Roll Tide Wire (Alabama).
Key Takeaways
- Blake Sims said he called Nick Saban to apologize as he transitioned into coaching.
- His coaching path began at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in 2023, included a wide receivers role at West Alabama in 2025 under Scott Cochran, and now includes a position at Holmes Community College.
- Sims started all 14 games for Alabama in 2014, throwing for 3,487 yards and an SEC-leading 28 touchdown passes while adding 350 rushing yards and seven rushing scores.
- Alabama finished the 2014 regular season 11-1, won the SEC championship over Missouri, and advanced into the first College Football Playoff.
Blake Sims apology and coaching timeline
Sims described the phone call while speaking on The DYNASTY podcast with hosts Chris Stewart, A.J. McCarron and Trent Richardson.
“My first day at West Alabama, I called coach Saban, and I was like, ‘I’m sorry for everything I put you through. These kids is driving me crazy. I have a gray hair in my chin here.’
I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, man.'”
Per Sims’ recollection, Saban responded with a short directive and then ended the call: “He’s just laughing and he’s like, ‘you serve your head coach, serve your offensive coordinator, and make his job easier,'” and Sims said Saban quickly hung up afterward.
Sims framed the exchange as part humor and part accountability and used it to reflect on how his playing career intersected with his early work as a coach.
He began coaching at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in Georgia in 2023, moved to West Alabama in 2025, and has since taken a role at Holmes Community College.
2014 season and coaching resume comparison
| Category | Verified details |
|---|---|
| 2014 season production | Started all 14 games, threw for 3,487 yards and an SEC-leading 28 touchdown passes, rushed for 350 yards and seven touchdowns, and helped Alabama finish the regular season 11-1 with a 42-13 SEC championship victory over Missouri |
| Coaching timeline | Coaching began at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in 2023, served as West Alabama wide receivers coach in 2025 under Scott Cochran, and currently coaches at Holmes Community College as quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and lead recruiter |
How Sims’ coaching path affects SEC recruiting and CFP context
Sims working at the high school and lower-college levels places him in regional recruiting pipelines that feed SEC programs across Georgia and Mississippi.
His 2014 on-field credentials give him a recognizable background to families and staff, which can aid in prospect conversations and positional development that influence roster construction and recruiting battles relevant to College Football Playoff contenders.
