Nick Saban has revealed that he was still unsure whether or not he would retire just five minutes before he informed his Alabama team of his decision.
Saban announced his retirement on Wednesday after 17 years in charge of the Crimson Tide.
It was a decision he agonized over – right up until he was set to meet his players.
‘I was on the phone, we had a meeting at 4 p.m, it was 3:55, I was sitting in my chair, looking at the clock, saying: you’ve got five minutes to decide which speech you’re going to give,’ Saban told ESPN.
‘I was actually talking to Miss Terry (his wife) right up until that time. It was a difficult decision because it impacts and influences the lives of so many people.’
Nick Saban said he was unsure about retiring until five minutes before he told his players
Saban retired after being the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide for 17 years
He is set to be given a new office in the team’s stadium and take up a support role
The 72-year-old said his decision to retire was down to the grind of making it through a full college football season becoming harder and harder with each passing year.
‘To be honest, this last season was grueling,’ said Saban. ‘It was a real grind for us to come from where we started to where we got to. It took a little bit more out of me than usual. 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 have always done it and be able to sustain it for the entire season? And if I couldn’t make a commitment to do that in the future – like I have to do – I thought this was the right time.’
He added: ‘There’s never a good time, but I thought that this was the right time.’
Saban also revealed that he will still have an office at Bryant-Denny Stadium – even after stepping down as coach.
When asked what he told his players, he replied: ‘I’m going to be here. So I’m going to be here for you – I’m going to have a presence, I’m going to stay in Tuscaloosa, they’re going to give me an office in the stadium and I said: “I can get on your butt from there just like I can on the field!”‘
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