Alabama football coach Nick Saban is retiring after 17 seasons and six national championships

Alabama's Nick Saban, the coach who built the most successful college football program of the 21st century, steps away from the sidelines.

Saban's retirement was first reported on Wednesday by Tuscaloosa News.

Saban (72 years old) said. In the current situation He announced his retirement Wednesday evening, as he and his wife Terri “enjoyed every minute” of his 17 years at the university and as part of the Tuscaloosa community.

“It's not just about how many games we won and lost, it's about the legacy and how we did it. We always tried to do it the right way,” Saban said. “The goal has always been to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they can be, and be more successful in life because they were part of the program. We hope we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our goal.” house.”

Saban walks away with a career mark of 297-71-1, an impressive .806 winning clip, in stops at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama.

While he was successful at all of those stops, he will be best known for his time in Tuscaloosa, where he returned the Crimson Tide to the top of college football.

During his 17 years at 'Bama, the Tide went 206-29 (.877) and won national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Saban's Alabama teams were so dominant that he became the virtual face of college football, whether he was in insurance company ads or making a brief appearance in the hit movie “The Blind Side.”

In a post on a social media page for Saban's Nick's Kids charity, his wife said Alabama will always be a part of their family's life.

“It has been an amazing journey over the past 17 years at the University of Alabama, and we take with us many amazing memories.” Terry Saban wrote on the Facebook page. “…Alabama will always feel like 'Sweet Home' to our family, and we will cheer on 'Roll Tide'!”

Saban finished his career with a loss, which was one of two his team recorded this season. Alabama lost early in the season to Texas and then to eventual College Football Playoff champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

The team's 12 wins include a win in the SEC Championship game over the Georgia Bulldogs.

While his teams were collecting national titles, Saban received personal accolades: he was drafted Alabama Sports Hall of Fame In 2013; He was named twice by the Associated Press National Coach of the Year – For the first time in 2003, when he was coaching LSU, and in 2008, when he was at Alabama.

University of Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne called Saban “one of the greatest coaches ever in any sport.” A new coach was not immediately announced.

On campus Wednesday night, students took photos and gathered near a statue of Saban, from a video NBC affiliate WVTM in Birmingham show up.

Saban was born in Fairmount, West Virginia, He played football at Kent State University in Ohio while he was a student.

His first coaching job was at the University of Toledo in Ohio, a job that was followed by leadership positions at Michigan State and LSU. He coached the NFL's Miami Dolphins before being hired by Alabama in 2007.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was among those who praised Saban and his coaching career Wednesday night.

“Nick Saban will go down as one of the best players in college football, and at Alabama, in our culture, that means something,” she said in a statement.

Auburn University football, a rival of Alabama, He said on X“The End of the Age.”

“It's hard to express how much Nick and Ms. Terry mean to me and Jill as friends, and they have set a forever mark for so many to pursue in this profession,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said on the social media platform. “Enjoy retirement!!”

revision (January 11, 2024, 12:45 a.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misstated Nick Saban's birthplace. It's Vermont, West Virginia, not Virginia.