Nick Saban, one of the greatest college football coaches in history, has closed the chapter of his incredible career after 17 seasons at Alabama.
The 72-year-old was the head football coach at the University of Alabama from 2007 to 2023, helping the school’s Crimson Tide team become national champions. His wealth of experience extended to other teams, making him a beloved mentor in the NFL world.
While many are heartbroken by Saban’s exit, fans celebrated his glorious career and flooded social media with their favorite memories instead of wailing about the coach’s retirement.
Nick Saban Reflects On His Incredible Time At Alabama In An Emotional Statement
During his 17 years at Alabama, Saban successfully transformed the university’s football team into the champions they are today with help from his wife, Terry. The renowned coach reflected on the couple’s time at the school in his farewell statement, which read:
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me. 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.”
“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,” the 72-year-old continued, noting the couple’s goal was to help players become the best on the field. In Saban’s words:
“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.”
The Fairmont native doesn’t have to worry about his legacy, as his achievements speak to his work in Alabama. The university’s Director of Athletics, Greg Byrne, raved about the coach’s illustrious career at the school, noting he helped them win “seven national championships, 11 conference championships, and 312 games.”
“He’s developed an NCAA-record 49 NFL first-round draft picks and, most importantly, hundreds of college graduates. He is the consummate coach, mentor, and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field.” In an X post, Byrne gushed:
“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.”
Saban’s achievements are not only tied to Alabama, as he has spent 28 years as a college head coach at Toledo (1990), Michigan State (1995-99), LSU (2000-04), and Alabama (2007-23). In those years, he achieved seven national titles, with his first at LSU in 2003, before winning six championships at Alabama (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020).
He also coached the Miami Dolphins for two seasons (2005-2006). His success became that of his players, as 49 of his mentored athletes got chosen in the first round of the NFL draft. The drafted Alabama players have reportedly made over $2 billion in the last 16 NFL seasons.
Fans Share Their Favorite Nick Saban Moment In Honor Of His Retirement
My favorite Nick Saban moment was not a win, it came in defeat.
Coaches and parents make sure you affirm your children/athletes even after losses.
Forever my favorite Saban moment. pic.twitter.com/wrBXJAs4eM
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 11, 2024
Saban’s retirement sparked a wave of nostalgia on social media platforms like X, with many sharing their favorite moments and quotes from the coach. One fan raved:
“Nick Saban’s time at Alabama will end with every single player that played 4 years for him winning at least 1 national championship. Over a 17 year stretch. Absolutely insane.”
Another chimed, “In honor of Nick Saban’s retirement…One of my favorite quotes from him: ‘There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you’ll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment.’”
A third fan also dropped their favorite Saban quote about perseverance, which read, “‘Run hard when it gets hard to run. Everything starts with discipline. Practice until you can’t get it wrong – not just until you get it right. If you don’t respect it enough to do it right when it’s the right way to do it, how can you be trusted in a game?’ – Nick Saban.”
More fans reminiscenced about the coach’s best moments, with someone sharing a video of the 72-year-old cheering up his team after they lost a game. The individual captioned the heartwarming moment:
“My favorite Nick Saban moment was not a win, it came in defeat. Coaches and parents make sure you affirm your children/athletes even after losses. Forever my favorite Saban moment.”