By JOHN ZENOR (AP Sports Writer)
Nick Saban, the strict coach who gained seven nationwide championships and turned Alabama again right into a nationwide powerhouse that included six of these titles in simply 17 seasons, is retiring, based on a number of studies.
The 72-year-old Saban restored a Crimson Tide program as soon as dominated by Paul “Bear” Bryant to the highest of school soccer after taking on in 2007. His choice to step away was reported Wednesday, first by ESPN after which by different shops.
Saban led the Crimson Tide from a shaky begin this season to a Southeastern Conference championship and again into the College Football Playoff earlier than falling to Michigan in a semifinal recreation on the Rose Bowl.
Saban led the Tide to 9 Southeastern Conference championships and gained his first nationwide title at Alabama with a 14-0 season in 2009. Titles got here once more in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020. Alabama was at all times a contender however had fallen wanting the title since then.
Saban is famed for his sideline scowl and fiery demeanor — and for profitable. Saban has gained extra nationwide titles than some other main faculty coach.
He made a two-year foray into the NFL with the Miami Dolphins earlier than returning to varsity soccer to revive one in all faculty soccer’s most storied applications, which hadn’t gained a nationwide title in 15 years. Saban is 297-71-1 as a university head coach, with stops at Toledo, Michigan State and LSU, the place he additionally gained a nationwide title. But Alabama is the place he cemented his standing as one in all faculty soccer’s biggest coaches.
His newest crew handled loads of adversity early on, together with a loss to Texas, however rebounded with the emergence of quarterback Jalen Milroe to upset then-No. 1 Georgia within the SEC Championship Game.
Saban didn’t sound like a coach wanting to surrender the job any time quickly after the sport. But it wasn’t a foul option to go, even with out the title.
“This is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history in terms of where this team came from, what they were able to accomplish and what they were able to do, winning the SEC Championship, and really, really proud of this group,” he stated.
“I just wish that I could have done more as a coach to help them be successful and help them finish, and all we can do now is learn from the lessons that sometimes failings bring to us.”
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AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Source: www.bostonherald.com