Nick Saban coaching record: Reflecting on the career of one of college football's most successful coaches

It's the dawn of a new era in college football. Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement Wednesday following a season in which the Crimson Tide came up just short of a national championship appearance.

Saban created a dynasty at Alabama, one that continued with an SEC title in 2023. He leaves the program as arguably the best college football coach in history.

MORE: Why Saban is retiring after seven national titles

Nick Saban college coaching record

A look back at Saban's head coaching career in college football offers almost too many accomplishments to list, including an impressive overall record of 292-71-1.

That includes seven national championships, 11 SEC championships and one MAC championship. He also won the SEC Coach of Year award five times, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award winner twice and the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award twice, and he was twice named the Associated Press Coach of the Year.

Saban, now 72 years old, joined Alabama as head coach starting in 2007 and spent 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide. After winning his first national championship with LSU in 2003, he led Alabama to the title in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020.

His head coaching career began at Toledo in 1990, but he resigned after just one season to join head coach Bill Belichick's staff with the Cleveland Browns. In 1995, he began a five-year stint as head coach at Michigan State.

From 2000 to 2004, he served as the head coach for LSU. Then he spent two seasons with the NFL's Miami Dolphins before being hired by Alabama.

In 2023, in what we now know to be the last season of Saban's coaching career, he guided Alabama to a 12-2 record. The 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day marked the final game of his career.

According to Chris Low of ESPN, Saban informed the team of his retirement on Wednesday afternoon. He will be remembered for his tough-nosed coaching style, and he heads into retirement with prestige firmly affixed to his name.

MORE: Five possible candidates for next Alabama head coach

Nick Saban bowl game history

Saban is the only coach to win seven national titles in the poll era, six of which came at Alabama.

Here's a look at Saban's complete bowl game and postseason history between Michigan State, LSU and Alabama.

Saban and the great Bear Bryant remain the only coaches in the history college football to win an SEC championship at two different schools.