Nick Saban of Alabama, the most successful college football coach of the modern era, declared his retirement on Wednesday.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban stated. “We have cherished every second of our 17 years as Alabama’s head coaches and our integration into the Tuscaloosa community. It matters more than simply how many games we win and lose; it also matters about our legacy and method of operation.
Throughout his career, 72-year-old Nick Saban has won an unprecedented seven national championships, six of which came during a dynastic reign with the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide.
This season, which was coach Saban’s 17th overall, came to an end as the team lost to eventual champion Michigan in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
In a statement posted on the team’s website, Saban said, “My wife Terry and I have found the University of Alabama to be a very special place.”
After taking over in 2007, Saban brought the Crimson Tide back to the pinnacle of collegiate football, where they had been under Paul “Bear” Bryant’s tutelage. As he continued to win, Saban’s notoriety in the state of Alabama rose to regal proportions.