Nick Saban breaks his silence after shock retirement as legendary coach insists Alabama will always be ‘home’ after 17 years with the Crimson Tide

Nick Saban insists he will always consider Alabama “home” after announcing his shock retirement from the Crimson Tide on Wednesday.

Saban broke his silence just hours after news broke that he was resigning after 17 incredible seasons leading the University of Alabama.

The 72-year-old won seven national championships, including six with the Tide, making him the most successful college coach of the modern era.

“The University of Alabama has been a very special place for Terry and me,” Saban said.

“We have loved every minute of our 17 years as head coach at Alabama and as part of the Tuscaloosa community. It’s not just about how many games we’ve won and lost, but it’s also about the legacy and how we’ve gone about it.

“The University of Alabama has been a very special place for Terry and me,” he added

‘We’ve 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 did that and we will always consider Alabama our home.”

Saban’s 28-year career as a college head coach began at Toledo in 1990 and took him to Michigan State and LSU before arriving at Alabama in 2007.

He retires after compiling a remarkable 206-29 (.877) record in Tuscaloosa and producing 44 first-round picks in the NFL draft along the way.

“Words cannot adequately express our appreciation for Coach Saban for his exemplary leadership and service to the University of Alabama over the past 17 years,” said Alabama President Stuart R. Bell.

“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.”