Nick Saban reveals why he decided to retire now

Oct 21, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban does his traditional walk around at Bryant-Denny Stadium before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama coach Nick Saban stunned the college football world by announcing his retirement on Wednesday. One day later, he went into detail about what went into his decision.

In an interview with Rece Davis of ESPN, Saban said the grind of coaching was the primary reason for his decision. He dismissed the notion that recent changes to college football had anything to do with his retirement. Saban said it was a simple question of whether he felt he could give his best to the team.

“This last season was grueling. It was a real grind for us to come from where we started to where we got to. It took a little more out of me than usual,” Saban admitted, as transcribed by Mike Rodak of 247 Sports. “When people mention the health issue, it was really just the grind of can you do this the way you want to do it? Can you do it the way you’ve always done it, and be able to sustain it and do it for the entire season? And if I couldn’t make a commitment to do that in the future the way I have to do it, I thought maybe this was the right time, based on those two sets of circumstances.”

Saban had always maintained that he would walk away when he felt he could no longer devote the energy to the job that he needs to. By his own explanation, that is why he is quitting now.

Saban turned 72 in October, so while he could still be successful, he holds himself to an incredibly high standard. He may ultimately transition into a much more lower-stakes role, albeit one that will maintain plenty of visibility.