After 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Nick Saban, one of college football’s all-time great coaches, revealed on Wednesday that he will be retiring, according to ESPN.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) states that Saban worked as a college head coach for 28 years, serving as head coach of Toledo (1990), Michigan State (1995–99), Louisiana State University (2000–04), and Alabama (2007–23).
Six of the seven national championships he won came from transforming the University of Alabama back into a national powerhouse.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban said in a statement. We have cherished every second of our 17 years as Alabama’s head coaches and our integration into the Tuscaloosa community.
“The legacy and the way we approached it are more important than the number of games we won and lost. We always made an effort to do things correctly. Being the best player possible, helping players produce more value for their future, and helping them succeed in life as a result of being a part of the program was always the aim.
“Hopefully, we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our home.”
After finishing his 17th season at the institution, the 72-year-old coach tied Vince Dooley for the second-most wins at a single school in Southeastern Conference Football (SEC) history with 201 games won.
Alabama achieved dynastic heights under Bear Bryant, taking home six national crowns and 13 SEC championships.
With nine conference titles and six more national titles, Saban brought the Crimson Tide back to those pinnacles.
Greg Byrne, athletic director at Alabama, stated, “Nick Saban is one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport.” “He is the consummate coach, mentor and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field.”
All eyes are now on Byrne in his search for a new college football coach in order to keep the squad atop the standings. Now he has to choose between hiring a protégé of Saban or stepping outside the established coaching tree.
Tuscaloosa News reports that Dan Lanning of the University of Oregon football team, Steve Sarkisian of the University of Texas football team, and Mike Williams of Florida State are among the possible contenders for the job.
