Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban Officially Announces Retirement
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama head football coach Nick Saban officially announced his retirement on Wednesday night, concluding 17 seasons as the head coach in Tuscaloosa.
In a press release from Alabama Athletics, Saban provided comments on his retirement.
“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 retires a winner of seven national championships, the most of any college football coach in history, including six at Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020.
“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,” said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. “Throughout his career as a head coach, his teams have won seven national championships, 11 conference championships and 312 games, and he’s developed an NCAA-record 49 NFL first-round draft picks and, most importantly, hundreds of college graduates. 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.”
Saban won nine SEC titles at Alabama, and coached the Crimson Tide’s first four Heisman Trophy winners in school history (Mark Ingram in 2009, Derrick Henry in 2015, DeVonta Smith in 2020, Bryce Young in 2021).
“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,” said Alabama President Stuart R. Bell. “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 recorded a 297-71-1 (.806) college coaching record, including a 206-29 (.877) mark at Alabama. His teams won a combined 11 SEC titles, going 11-1 in SEC Championship Games, including nine at Alabama (9-1) and two at LSU (2-0).
“The contributions Nick Saban has made throughout his career in college football form a legacy without comparison,” Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said. “His focus on excellence, support for the young men on his teams, career opportunities provided to coaches and championship moments have been achieved through consistency, dedication and care. I have been privileged to work with Nick and wish the best to the entire Saban family.”
Alabama players under Saban received 66 All-America honors, including 58 individual players being named All-Americans. Saban also coached the first-ever 2-time unanimous All-American in school history in Will Anderson Jr.
Saban-coached players in the NFL have made over $2 billion combined over the past 16 seasons. Saban developed 49 first-round picks as a college head coach, 44 of which came from Alabama.
