Report: Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban to Retire

According to reports from Chris Low the seven-time national champion is walking away from the sport.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is planning to retire according to reporting by Chris Low of ESPN.

Nick Saban is retiring, sources tell ESPN. He won six national titles at Alabama.

— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 10, 2024

Saban was hired by the University of Alabama in 2007 and has led the Crimson Tide program to six national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020) and 11 Southeastern Conference title. He oversaw the program's first four Heisman Trophy winners in Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young. 

He retires from coaching with a college record of 292-71-1 with 201 of those victories coming at the University of Alabama. 

The 72-year old coach was known as a prolific recruiter, having gone 16 consecutive seasons with a top-five recruiting class according to 247Sports.

Saban produced 44 NFL first round draft picks during his tenure at the Capstone after no players were drafted at all from the program he initially took over in 2007. 

The West Virginian began his football coaching career under Don James at Kent State in the 1970s. He rose through the ranks as a defensive backs coach with Syracuse, West Virginia and Ohio State before landing a head coaching job at Toledo. 

He spent one year with Rockets before accepting the defensive coordinator position with the Cleveland Browns under Bill Belichick. After five seasons in the NFL he took his talents to East Lansing where he became head coach at Michigan State. 

Saban spent five seasons in the Big 10, earning a signature win over No. 1 Ohio State in 1998. In 1999 the Spartans went 9-2 and the head coach departed for the same position at LSU.

It only took Saban two seasons to lead the Tigers to an SEC title as 2001 marked the second conference championship on his record. The West Virginian raised his profile even higher in 2003, winning the conference again and giving LSU its first national championship in 45 years.

Shortly after the 2004 season, Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga zeroed in on Saban to lead the professional franchise. Saban coached the Dolphins for two seasons, leading them to 15-17 record. His professional career is largely marked by the Dolphins decision to sign free agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees based on medical information. 

University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore pursued Saban heavily after firing Mike Shula at the conclusion of the 2006 season. Saban initially rebuffed Moore, but persistency and winning the ear of Terry Saban did the trick for the University of Alabama.

On Jan. 4, 2007 Saban was introduced as the next head coach of the University of Alabama. Seventeen years later, arguably college football's greatest coach, has decided to retire. 

This story will be updated.

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