nick saban's coaching governance it's over. But his dominance in college football will forever remain in the lore of the sport.
Saban won 7 National Championships Multiple media outlets reported that the man who led the University of Alabama to a national powerhouse with six titles in just 17 seasons, more than any other major college football coach, is retiring.
Saban, 72, has risen to the top of college football since taking over in 2007, reviving the Crimson Tide program that had previously been ruled by Paul “Bear” Bryant. His decision to step down was reported Wednesday, first by ESPN and then by other media outlets. He is ending a career that produced numerous titles and helped launch or restart the head coaching careers of Georgia's Kirby Smith, Texas' Steve Sarkisian and Mississippi State's Lane Kiffin. Ta.
he finished Just before the top In his final season, he led the Tide from a shaky start to a Southeastern Conference championship and return to the College Football Playoff, losing in overtime to Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinals.
Saban led the Tide to nine Southeastern Conference championships and won his first national title in 2009 with a 14-0 season at Alabama. He also won the title in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020. He also won the SEC with LSU in 2001 and 2003.
The Alabama Crimson celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 7, 2013. Tide head coach Nick Saban. (Streeter Rekka/Getty Images)
Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who has appeared in a series of commercials with Saban, had strong reactions to both the Alabama coach's retirement and the current state of college football.
“Wow! College football just forced the GOAT into retirement,” Sanders posted on X. I knew it would happen within a day, but it didn't happen this quickly. The game has changed so much that we've gotten rid of the GOAT. College football, let's hold up a mirror and be honest about what we see. ”
Saban entered the NFL for two years with the Miami Dolphins, then returned to college football to revive one of college football's most storied programs that hadn't won a national title in 15 years. Saban is 297-71-1 as a college head coach, playing at Michigan State, Toledo and LSU, where he also won a national title. But Alabama is where he established himself as one of college football's great coaches.
Saban coached Alabama's first four Heisman Trophy winners, produced numerous NFL players, and compiled a record of 206-29 with a winning percentage of 87.7%. His teams produced 44 first-round draft picks, including last year's No. 1 quarterback, Bryce Young.
During that time, he also adapted to the changing era of up-tempo offenses, churning out high-scoring teams after winning with the new NIL and transfer rules, as well as the best defense in the country.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach after defeating the Louisiana State University Tigers in the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 9, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nick Saban is high on Gatorade. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
He led Toledo to the Mid-American Conference championship in 1990, his only season as the program's head coach. Saban spent four seasons as Bill Belichick's defensive coordinator with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, then coached Michigan State University, leading its first three teams to bowl games and leading LSU to the national title in 2003.
His latest team faced a lot of early adversity, including a loss to Texas, but bounced back with the emergence of quarterback Jalen Milroe and upset the then-No. 1 team. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
Saban didn't seem like a coach who was going to quit his job immediately after the game. But even without a title, it wasn't a bad way to go.
“This season was one of the greatest in Alabama football history in terms of where this team came from, what it was able to accomplish, winning the SEC Championship, and I'm really proud of this group. ” he said.
“I wish I could have done more as a coach to help them succeed and help them finish. All we can do now is learn from the lessons that sometimes failure brings.”
