Alabama’s Nick Saban, a highly successful college football coach with numerous national championships, announced his retirement on Wednesday.

Renowned college football coach Nick Saban, known for guiding the University of Alabama to seven national championships, declared his retirement after 17 seasons. Throughout his tenure, he transformed the Alabama team into a dominant force, securing six of those national titles. His coaching legacy is marked by notable success.

Being at the University of Alabama has been a meaningful experience for Terry and me,” Nick Saban stated. “Throughout our 17 years as head coach, we cherished our time in Tuscaloosa. It’s not just about the wins and losses; it’s about our legacy and the principles we followed. We consistently aimed to do things the right way. Our main goal was to assist players in building a better future, excel in their performance, and achieve success in life because of their involvement in the program.

Nick Saban, at the age of 72, recently concluded his 17th season as the coach of Alabama’s football team. Unfortunately, the season ended with a loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. His total wins stand at 201, tying him with Vince Dooley from Georgia for the second-most victories at a single school in SEC history. The top spot in this regard is held by Bear Bryant, who achieved 232 wins during his 25 seasons coaching Alabama.

Under Bear Bryant’s leadership, Alabama achieved significant success, claiming 13 SEC championships and six national titles. Nick Saban continued this legacy, guiding the Crimson Tide to nine conference championships and an additional six national titles, restoring the team to a position of prominence.

Nick Saban is truly one of the greatest coaches, not just in football but in any sport,” commented Alabama’s athletic director Greg Byrne. “He’s more than a coach; he’s a mentor and leader, leaving a lasting impact beyond the football field. Although he’s no longer our coach, his legacy is enduring. It’s been a privilege to witness one of the best in action.”

Nick Saban ensured his players were the first to hear about his retirement before it became public. In a meeting at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, he shared the news. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the meeting was rescheduled due to weather issues preventing some players from attending. Saban and his wife spent the extended weekend at their home in Florida before returning to Tuscaloosa on Monday.

Nick Saban addressed the players and staff in the team room for approximately 15 minutes, revealing his decision to retire. He then mentioned that Byrne had something to share with them and left during Byrne’s talk. Saban continued discussions with his staff afterward.

The timing of Nick Saban’s retirement surprised many in the program. Just an hour before informing the players, he was conducting Zoom interviews with potential assistant coaches. Interviews with candidates had also taken place the previous day. According to sources, once Nick Saban made the retirement decision, he chose not to proceed further with coaching interviews.

During the Wednesday meeting, Nick Saban expressed gratitude to his players for their dedication and carefully explained his decision. He mentioned that changes in college football, including the transfer portal, tampering issues, concerns with how NIL is used for high school players and transfers, and the extended recruiting calendar, influenced his choice to retire at this time.

According to insiders, NIck Saban was becoming frustrated with the evolving landscape of college football. His focus on team-building and player development seemed to clash with the increasing emphasis on individual deals in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) arena.

Throughout his 28-year career as a college head coach, Saban never faced a losing season. The least successful periods were in 1996 and 1998 at Michigan State, where the team finished with an even record.

Nick Saban briefly tried coaching in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins for two years before returning to college football. He took charge of a renowned college team that hadn’t won a national title in 15 years. In his 17 seasons at Alabama, Saban achieved 201 wins, surpassing the total wins of the Crimson Tide in the 24 seasons between Bear Bryant’s retirement and Saban’s hiring (171 wins).

Nick Saban’s overall college coaching record is 292-71-1, placing him sixth in FBS for wins and twelfth in college football history across all divisions. Prior to Alabama, he coached at Toledo, leading them to a championship in 1990. He also worked in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and brought success to Michigan State and LSU, winning a national title with LSU in 2003.

Alabama is where Nick Saban established himself as one of the greatest college football coaches. In his debut season in 2007, the team had a 7-6 record. However, under Saban’s leadership, Alabama went on an impressive streak, winning at least 10 games for 16 consecutive seasons. This stands as the longest streak in the AP poll era, dating back to 1936. Remarkably, during Saban’s tenure, Alabama played 107 games against AP-ranked teams, surpassing any other program by 14 games.

Nick Saban achieved remarkable success during his time at Alabama. He guided the team to undefeated national championship seasons in 2009 and 2020, making him the only coach with multiple undefeated seasons in the BCS/CFP era (since 1998). His seven national championships are more than double the count of any other coach.

Even after a brief stint in the NFL, Saban returned to Alabama, continuing to coach players who went on to the NFL. In the 2023 NFL draft, three Alabama players, including the first overall pick, were selected in the first round. Saban has coached a total of 49 players picked in the first round, the most of any coach in the common draft era.

Nick Saban’s impact extended beyond victories; he coached all four of Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winners and excelled in recruiting. Since 2006, he secured eight No. 1 recruiting classes, a record unmatched by any other coach.

Alabama’s president, Stuart R. Bell, expressed gratitude for Saban’s 17 years of dedicated service, highlighting his commitment to excellence on and off the field.

Nick Saban’s coaching tree is impressive, as several successful head coaches, including Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, Mario Cristobal, Brent Key, Dan Lanning, and Mike Locksley, started their coaching careers under his guidance.

During Nick Saban’s tenure, Alabama made it to the College Football Playoff eight out of the 10 seasons it existed. In his final season, despite initial challenges, Nick Saban led the team to a thrilling victory over No. 1 Georgia but narrowly missed out on a win against Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Nick Saban’s legacy at Alabama is enduring and significant.

In August 2022, Saban secured a contract extension until February 2030, earning him nearly $94 million and re-establishing him as the highest-paid coach in college football. When questioned about staying for the entire extension, Saban confidently responded.