The retirement of iconic Alabama Crimson Tide football coach shockwaves through the college sports world. For the first time, fans can get an inside look at what transpired on that pivotal day.
In the fourth episode of “The Tides That Bind,” a series available exclusively on Fox Nation, members of the Crimson Tide staff recall the unexpected announcement that Saban would be ending his coaching career.
“January 10, 2024, is definitely a day that will always stay with me,” said Jeff Allen, Director of Sports Medicine for University of Alabama athletics, in the latest episode.
During a routine team meeting on that memorable January day, Nick Saban took the stage, and everything initially felt “normal,” according to former NFL player and Director of Player Development Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
“He was having his usual conversations, talking about preparing to compete for another championship,” Clinton-Dix recalled.
However, as the meeting progressed, Saban’s demeanor began to shift. “Toward the end of his speech, he started stumbling a bit, getting teary-eyed. You could feel the energy in the room change,” he added.
Then, as Assistant Athletics Director Dr. Ginger Gilmore recounted, “It just came out. He said, ‘So, I’m going to retire.'”
Amid the panic that swept through Tuscaloosa following Saban’s departure from the program, the Crimson Tide were able to hire a successor with a strong track record of success: former Washington Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer.
In his first season, DeBoer led the team to a 9-4 record in 2024, though they fell short of making the expanded College Football Playoff.
DeBoer recently shared his experience of stepping into Saban’s role and discussed the team’s collaboration with Fox Nation in an interview with Fox News Digital.
