Nick Saban, a legend in sports circles who won the most college football national championships in the modern era, announced he’s stepping away from his coaching role at Alabama.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Mr. 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.”
Reflecting on his coaching philosophy, he stressed that winning is about more than just scoreboards.
“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,” he said. “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,” he added.
Over the course of 28 years as a head coach, the teams he led won seven national titles, starting with LSU in 2003, followed by six championships at Alabama (2009, 2011–12, 2015, 2017, and 2020).
Mr. Saban’s teams won 11 conference championships and 312 games, and, according to Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, his leadership helped hundreds of college students graduate.
“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,” Mr. Byrne said in a statement.
“He is the consummate coach, mentor, and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field,” he added.
Since Mr. Saban began his run as Crimson Tide head coach in 2007, Alabama football has seen a total of 656 degrees earned, including 103 master’s degrees.
“His commitment to excellence has set the standard for our program, both on the field and in the classroom,” Alabama President Stuart R. Bell said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
In his six national championship seasons at Alabama, Mr. Saban’s teams boasted a 21–2 record against top-10 opponents and an overall 37–15 record against such teams since 2008.
Alabama also held the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press Poll for 15 consecutive years (2008–22), breaking the previous seven-year record set by Miami (1986–92).
Mr. Saban helped his college proteges succeed in the national league. A record 49 players he coached were chosen in the first round of the NFL draft, including 44 at Alabama.
His players have gone on to earn over $2 billion with the NFL over the course of the last 16 seasons.
“While his time as our coach may have come to an end, his legacy will live on forever,” Mr. Byrne said of the coaching legend.
