Nick Saban, Alabama head football coach announces retirement
Saban spent 28 years as a college head coach at several universities with Alabama being his final one
January 11, 2024
Nick Saban, one of college football's coaching greats on Wednesday announced he will be retiring after 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ESPN reported.
Saban spent 28 years as a college head coach at Toledo (1990), Michigan State (1995-99), Louisiana State University (2000-04) and Alabama (2007-23), according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
He won seven national championships and turned the University of Alabama back into a national powerhouse that included six of those titles.
In a statement, Saban said: "The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me. We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community.
"It is not just about how many games we won and lost, but it's about the legacy and how we went about it. We always tried to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were part of the program.
"Hopefully, we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our home."
The 72-year-old coach completed his 17th season at the school, winning 201 games, tied with Vince Dooley for the second-most wins at a single school in Southeastern Conference Football (SEC) history.
Under Bear Bryant, Alabama reached dynastic heights, winning 13 SEC championships and six national titles. Saban returned the Crimson Tide to those heights, winning nine conference crowns and six more national championships.
"Simply put, Nick Saban is one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport," Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. "He is the consummate coach, mentor and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field."
Now, all eyes are on Byrne as he seeks a new coach to maintain the team's top position in college football. He must now decide whether to hire a Saban disciple or go outside the traditional coaching tree.
According to Tuscaloosa News, some potential candidates for the position include University of Oregon football coach Dan Lanning, University of Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian, and Florida State coach Mike Norvell among others.
