Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban will be stepping down from his position and retiring from the sport after 17 seasons of service at the school.
Regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time, the 72-year-old has secured an illustrious legacy, claiming nine SEC championships (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023) and six national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020) with the Crimson Tide.
Saban joined Alabama in 2007 following two uneventful seasons as the head coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006, during which he posted a record of 15-17.
Before his stint in the NFL, Saban served as the head coach of the LSU Tigers for five seasons from 2000 to 2004, achieving success with two SEC titles in 2001 and 2003 and a national title in 2001.
He also had head coaching stints with the Michigan State Spartans from 1995 to 1999 and the Toledo Rockets for the 1990 season.
Alabama is facing a challenging search for a replacement for Saban, but some potential candidates could fill the significant void left by the all-time great.
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3 Possible Replacements for Nick Saban After His Shock Retirement
1. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels head coach
Kiffin is a former assistant of Saban, having served as the offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide from 2014 to 2016.
Since his time with the Crimson Tide, Kiffin has enjoyed success with coaching stints for the Florida Atlantic Owls from 2017 to 2019 and with the Ole Miss Rebels since the 2020 season. His recent coaching accomplishments include guiding Ole Miss to a No. 9 national ranking this season.
Before taking the Ole Miss job, Kiffin achieved a 26-13 record with the Owls. Since joining Ole Miss, his coaching record stands at 34-15.
The Rebels have positioned themselves as contenders in the SEC West, but Kiffin has faced challenges in crucial games, holding a 2-6 record against top 10 teams.
2. Dan Lanning, Oregon Ducks head coach
Lanning is one of the most charismatic young coaches in college football at 37 and the youngest candidate on the list.
His stint with Alabama includes serving as a graduate assistant during the 2015 season. Before his role at Oregon, he worked as the defensive coordinator for Georgia from 2019 to 2021.
Notably, Lanning led the top-ranked Georgia defense in 2021, allowing only 10.2 points per game (No. 1 nationally) and 268.5 yards per game (No. 2) en route to the College Football Playoff Championship.
While Lanning may lack decades of head-coaching experience, his composed demeanor, youthful energy, and defensive expertise position him as a promising candidate to maintain Saban's standard.
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers head coach
Swinney is one of the most decorated college football coaches in the modern era, securing national championships in 2016 and 2018, both at the expense of Saban and Alabama.
However, if the 54-year-old switches to the Crimson Tide, there's a catch.
A clause in Swinney's contract stipulates that if he were to depart Clemson for Alabama in 2024, he would be obligated to pay the university $7.5 million, $2.5 million more than if he left for a head coaching position at any other school.
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