On Jan. 10 at 3:53 p.m. CT, Nick Saban concluded a day at the Alabama football office, having just completed intensive interviews with three potential assistants – two wide receivers coaches and a special teams coach. Concluding the final interview with Washington receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard, Saban shared his thoughts with the Alabama coaches, expressing the belief that the candidate from Washington was the best fit for the position. He suggested further due diligence and planned a discussion for the following morning.
By 4 p.m., Saban reconvened with the group for a team meeting where he made a sudden announcement to the 150 players and staff present – he was retiring. Thus, ending a coaching career that boasted seven national titles and 11 SEC championships. 27 of his assistants went on to become FBS head coaches, and 10 secured NFL head coaching jobs.
Zach Mettenberger, an Alabama analyst at the time, described the situation as surreal and reminiscent of something out of the ‘Twilight Zone.’ With only a few minutes into the meeting, Saban revealed his decision to retire and promptly left the room.
Having struggled to make a final choice, Saban sat in contemplation at 3:55 p.m., pondering which speech to deliver. The subsequent speech shook the football world, particularly the lives of the 423 coaches and staffers whose roles would be affected by the ensuing coaching changes.
The aftermath of Saban’s retirement led to five additional major college football programs needing new head coaches. The ripple effect extended to 38 Power 5 schools, 25 Group of 5 schools, 34 lower-level programs, over a dozen high schools, and 10 NFL organizations.
Amy Bragg, the Crimson Tide’s head nutritionist since 2010, shared a rich history with Saban, winning five national titles together. Bragg, along with head trainer Jeff Allen and Dr. Ginger Gilmore, had worked alongside Saban for an extended period. Saban’s departure left numerous staffers, including his closest allies, uncertain about their future roles in the program.
Alabama had established a vast coaching and support staff, featuring more than 75 members listed in the 2023 directory. Saban’s decision left many, even his most loyal supporters, questioning their place in the program’s future.
Clint Trickett, an Alabama analyst who had recently been released as Marshall’s offensive coordinator, was among many affected by the news. Disappointed about missing the opportunity to work under Saban directly, Trickett reminisced about his brief experience working with the renowned coach and expressed his regret about missing out on a chance to fulfill his career goal.
Kane Wommack, the head coach at South Alabama, found himself impacted by Saban’s retirement while preparing for spring practices. Recounting the moment when he learned about Saban’s retirement, Wommack expressed concern about potential changes within his program.
The next morning, Kalen DeBoer reached out to Wommack to discuss potential opportunities at Alabama. DeBoer, fresh off a successful season leading Washington to the national championship game, sought insights from Wommack regarding the Tide’s program and offered him a position. Faced with a compelling career opportunity, Wommack ultimately accepted the offer, highlighting the allure of working as a defensive coordinator at a prestigious program like Alabama.
Everything unfolded swiftly after Saban’s retirement, with athletic director Greg Byrne swiftly appointing a replacement. DeBoer’s subsequent hire and subsequent staff changes continued to set off a chain reaction of coaching carousel movements, impacting programs both in and outside of collegiate football.
“What a week!” exclaimed Jedd Fisch as he navigated the halls of the Arizona football office post Saban’s retirement. The departure of one of his mentors, Pete Carroll, along with the anticipation of Bill Belichick’s potential move, set the stage for a dramatic series of events. Despite these developments, Fisch initially believed that Saban’s retirement wouldn’t directly affect his path.
Upon DeBoer’s appointment at Alabama, the subsequent vacancies in the coaching landscape prompted a new chapter in Fisch’s career at Washington. The Huskies’ athletic director, Troy Dannen, captivated by Fisch’s prior successes, swiftly moved to secure him as Washington’s new head coach.
Dannen’s strategic efforts to recruit Fisch underscored the ambition and commitment by Washington to elevate its football program. As Fisch settled into his new role, facilitated by Washington’s significant investments in the football program, a fresh chapter in Washington’s football narrative began to unfold.
These unfolding changes due to Saban’s retirement reverberated across various tiers of the collegiate and even high school football landscape. The ensuing coaching changes underlined the dynamism of the coaching fraternity, emphasizing the extensive reach of Saban’s enduring influence.
Just before his departure, Wommack appointed Clint Trickett as an assistant at Georgia Southern following his release from Marshall. This move was part of a broader coaching ripple effect initiated by Saban’s retirement, reshaping coaching compositions across divisions and programs.
The ensuing coaching transitions stemming from Saban’s retirement also extended to high schools, with various changes leading to new head coaching appointments. These unexpected developments reshaped the coaching landscape, prompting coaches like Trickett to contemplate their career trajectories and seek new opportunities in the wake of Saban’s significant retirement announcement.
At South Alabama, Wommack’s decision to join Alabama triggered adjustments within the Jaguars’ program. Major Applewhite, Wommack’s offensive coordinator, swiftly rose to replace him as the head coach, buoyed by Saban’s mentorship which played a pivotal role in his coaching journey.
Applewhite’s narrative mirrored that of several other coaches and staffers who experienced shifts in their roles or found new opportunities following Saban’s retirement. The far-reaching impact of Saban’s retirement highlighted the interconnectedness of the coaching community, with each transition marking a new chapter in the evolving landscape of collegiate and even high school football.