Alabama football coach Nick Saban announces retirement
Nick Saban, one of college football’s coaching greats who won seven national championships and turned Alabama back into a national powerhouse that included six of those titles, announced his retirement Wednesday after 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban said in a statement. “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, just completed his 17th season at Alabama, which ended in a loss to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl. He won 201 games — tied with Vince Dooley (Georgia) for the second-most wins at a single school in SEC history, behind only Bear Bryant, who won 232 games in his 25 seasons with Alabama.
Under 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. … 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.”
Saban was insistent on telling his players first that he was retiring before it got out publicly and did so Wednesday in a 5 p.m. ET meeting, sources told ESPN’s Chris Low. A regular team meeting had been set for Tuesday but was rescheduled for Wednesday when some players weren’t able to make it in time because of weather issues. Saban and his wife Terry spent the long weekend at their home in Florida before returning to Tuscaloosa on Monday.
Saban spoke to the players and staff in the team room for about 15 minutes, informing them that he was retiring. He then told them that Byrne wanted to talk with them. Saban left the room while Byrne was speaking and talked to his staff some more afterward.
Saban spoke to the players and staff in the team room for about 15 minutes, informing them that he was retiring. He then told them that Byrne wanted to talk with them. Saban left the room while Byrne was speaking and talked to his staff some more afterward.
