Alabama Head Coach, Nick Saban, Retires After 17 Years with Crimson Tide

photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

On Wednesday January 10th, 2024, longtime Alabama Head Coach, Nick Saban, retired after a long coaching career. He spent 17 years with the team, and also ended his 50-year Coaching Career.
by Drew Caraway

Alex Brandon/The Times-Picayune via Associated Press

On Wednesday January 10th, 2024, longtime Alabama Head Coach, Nick Saban, retired after a long coaching career. He spent 17 years with the team, and also ended his 50-year Coaching Career.

Saban’s Head Coaching Career
He began his head coaching career at Toledo in 1990. He led the team to a 9-2 record, then took his talents to the NFL to coach the Cleveland Browns as a Defensive Coordinator. After spending four years with Cleveland, he went to East Lansing, Michigan to be the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans in 1995, and spent four years with the team. Following a “mid” tenure with the Spartans, he took the reins at LSU. In 2001, he led the team to an SEC Championship and in 2003 the team won a BCS National Championship. However, in 2005, he took his talents back to the NFL to join the Miami Dolphins as head coach. After an underwhelming 2006 season, he was announced head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the rest is history. In 17 years, he led the Tide to six National Championships, 11 SEC Championships, and produced four Heisman Trophy winners (CBS Sports, Wikipedia). 

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Saban’s Coaching Tree
Along with being one of the best coaches of all time, regardless of the sport, Nick Saban has produced a ton of coaching talent. Here are a couple names (USA Today):

• Kirby Smart, HC of the University of Georgia Bulldogs
• Brian Daboll, HC of the New York Giants
• Lane Kiffin, HC of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels
• Mario Cristobal, HC of the University of Miami (FL) Hurricanes
• Brent Key, HC of the University of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
• Steve Sarkisian, HC of the University of Texas Longhorns
• Dan Lanning, HC of the University of Oregon Ducks

What’s Next For Saban?
Although Saban is 75, he still wants to get up and work. "I'm going to keep working," Saban told ESPN's Rece Davis in an interview Thursday. "I don't want to get up and watch Netflix. I want to do something. I have some businesses, maybe there's some other opportunities out there for me somewhere" (247Sports). So, Saban will still be involved with the Tide, and it truly shows his love for the program. 

Although it is sad to see him go, eventually, all good things must come to an end. Every kid in Walnut Grove who watched College Football grew up with Coach Saban, especially Georgia fans.

So long Coach Saban. Thank you for the memories.