Alabama head coach and seven-time national champion Nick Saban is retiring, the coach announced on Wednesday.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban said. “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.”
Saban, 72, won six of his seven national titles in his 17 years at Alabama, tying the school mark set by Bear Bryant. He finishes with a career mark of 297-71-1, 206 of those wins coming at Alabama (with 29 losses).
He led the Crimson Tide to 11 Southeastern Conference championships.
Saban’s Alabama teams missed the College Football Playoff just twice in 10 years of its existence while winning three national championships.
“Simply put, Nick Saban is one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport, and the University of Alabama is fortunate to have had him leading our football program for the past 17 seasons,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. ” He is the consummate coach, mentor and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field.
“Coach Saban and Ms. Terry have touched countless lives in our community and the state of Alabama with the work they’ve done through the Nick’s Kids Foundation. While his time as our coach may have come to an end, his legacy will live on forever. What an honor it has been for us to have a front-row seat to one of the best to ever do it. A truly remarkable career for Coach Saban.”
Alabama just wrapped up a 12-2 SEC championship season with a 27-20 overtime loss to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
“Words cannot adequately express our appreciation to Coach Saban for his exemplary leadership and service to the University of Alabama over the past 17 years,” Alabama president Stuart R. Bell said. “His commitment to excellence has set the standard for our program, both on the field and in the classroom. We are grateful for the lasting impact he has made on the lives of our student-athletes and the incredible memories his teams have created for our students, alumni, fans and supporters.
“Coach Saban and Ms. Terry are tremendous ambassadors for the University of Alabama and our community and we celebrate their many contributions and indelible legacy.”
Saban began his head coaching career at Toledo in 1990. He coached Michigan State from 1995-1999 before accepting the head-coaching job at LSU in 2000. He won his first national title in 2003 at LSU.
He took the Alabama job after a short and failed stint as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
–Field Level Media
