Purdue Coach Cites Nick Saban's Advice on Combating Social Media Criticism

Painter references Saban's wisdom when addressing impacts of online negativity

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter recently invoked a quote from Alabama football coach Nick Saban when discussing how to handle criticism from fans on social media. Painter said Saban's advice that "if you want everybody to like you, go sell ice cream" resonates when dealing with the realities of competitive sports.

Why it matters

Saban's leadership philosophy and ability to provide memorable quotes that transcend sports has made him a respected figure across the coaching profession. Painter's reference to Saban's wisdom shows how influential the Alabama coach's perspective can be, even for coaches in different sports.

The details

During a media session, Painter was asked about the impacts of negativity on social media. In his response, he brought up a quote from Saban, saying: "I thought Nick Saban summed it up well: If you want everybody to like you, go sell ice cream. This is competitive basketball, it's the way it is. People are going to blow you s—. The thing I don't like about it is — I think Notre Dame, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, they should blast us."

  • Painter made these comments during a media session earlier this week.

The players

Matt Painter

The head basketball coach for Purdue University.

Nick Saban

The head football coach for the University of Alabama, known for his leadership philosophy and memorable quotes.

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What they’re saying

“I thought Nick Saban summed it up well: If you want everybody to like you, go sell ice cream. This is competitive basketball, it's the way it is. People are going to blow you s—. The thing I don't like about it is — I think Notre Dame, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, they should blast us.”

— Matt Painter, Head Basketball Coach, Purdue University (chatsports.com)

The takeaway

Saban's wisdom and leadership philosophy have made him a respected figure across the coaching profession, as evidenced by Purdue's Matt Painter invoking one of Saban's memorable quotes when discussing how to handle criticism from fans on social media. This shows the far-reaching influence of Saban's approach to dealing with the realities of competitive sports.