Alabama head coach Nick Saban, whose seven national championships are more than any coach in NCAA history, is retiring, according to ESPN's Chris Low. Low reported the news Wednesday afternoon and said Saban has already told his team.
The news comes nine days after the Crimson Tide lost in overtime to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl, meaning Saban's final season won't be one ending with him holding the national title trophy.
The 72-year-old coach spent 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa coaching the Crimson Tide and won six national championships there and one at LSU. He's easily the greatest college football coach ever, and his accomplishments do the talking for him:
- 297-71-1 Career Record
- 7 National Championships
- 11 SEC Championships
- 1 MAC Championship
- 5x SEC Coach of Year
- 2x Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Winner
- 2x Walter Camp Coach of the Year
- 2x AP Coach of the Year
On top of his personal accolades, Saban mentored numerous star players, including four Heisman Trophy winners: Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young.
The reactions across the college football world have been the same sentiment. In one word: shocking.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders didn't expect Saban's retirement so soon:
WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let's hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see. #CoachPrime @CUBuffsFootball
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 10, 2024
Many fans and commentators simply congratulated the legend:
Wow!!
Surprised but not shocked by Coach Saban stepping down. Best to ever do it. From 2008-2023 he compiled a record of 199-16!!!! That?s an average of 12 wins in the last 16 seasons. As consistent and good as the sport has ever seen!
Thank you coach for all you put into the?— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) January 10, 2024
Congratulations to Nick Saban on a Hall of Fame Coaching Career. He is the Greatest College Football Coach of All-Time and has impacted the game of football in an immeasurable way. Be where your feet are and enjoy retirement Coach, you earned it. pic.twitter.com/sODI1vn54H
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban is the greatest coach in the history of college football. And at his age, he didn?t need to put up with the utter nonsense the sport has become. Congratulations Coach, they?ll never be another like you.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 10, 2024
Meanwhile, Alabama now becomes the most attractive head coaching job in college football. Names like Oregon's Dan Lanning and Clemson's Dabo Swinney have already been thrown around as to who might replace Saban.
The thing is, there is no replacing someone like Nick Saban. Hats off to the greatest college football coach ever.
