Nick Saban made it official on Tuesday night. The head coach confirmed his retirement through a University of Alabama statement:

“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,” said Nick Saban, “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 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.”

He spent 17 years with the Crimson Tide, bringing six national championships to Tuscaloosa. Saban won his first with LSU in 2003 and also had a stint with the Miami Dolphins in the NFL. Saban went 206-29 with Alabama.

“Words cannot adequately express our appreciation to Coach Saban for his exemplary leadership and service to The University of Alabama over the past 17 years,” Alabama President Stuart R. Bell said in a release. “His commitment to excellence has set the standard for our program, both on the field and in the classroom.

“We are grateful for the lasting impact he has made on the lives of our student-athletes and the incredible memories his teams have created for our students, alumni, fans and supporters. Coach Saban and Ms. Terry are tremendous ambassadors for The University of Alabama and our community and we celebrate their many contributions and indelible legacy.”

Saban seemed to appreciate the 2023 season more, taking time in postgame press conferences to thank the fans, and even the media, for their support. UA went 1-1 and cries for Saban losing his edge rang out. The response was a 10th SEC championship and trip to the Rose Bowl, where UA fell short to eventual national champion Michigan in overtime.

Alabama produced 49 NFL first-round draft picks in Saban’s tenure while his Nick’s Kids Foundation, run with his wife Terry Saban, distributed over $12 million to the Tuscaloosa area.

“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,” UA athletic director Greg Byrne said. ” … He is the consummate coach, mentor and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field.

“Coach Saban and Ms. Terry have touched countless lives in our community and the state of Alabama with the work they’ve done through the Nick’s Kids Foundation. While his time as our coach may have come to an end, his legacy will live on forever. What an honor it has been for us to have a front-row seat to one of the best to ever do it. A truly remarkable career for Coach Saban.”

ESPN reporter Chris Low tweeted the news of Saban’s retirement of over two hours before UA’s official statement.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].