Nick Saban, one of college football's coaching greats who won seven national championships and turned back into a national powerhouse that included six of those titles, announced his retirement Wednesday after 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama coach Nick Saban, 72, has decided to retire, ending a run that ranks among the greatest in college football history. The seven-time national championship-winning coach leaves the game having spent his last 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide, the school announced Wednesday.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama's Nick Saban, who has won more college football national championships than any coach in the modern era, announced his retirement on Wednesday.

Saban, who won seven national championships — more than any major college football coach — and turned Alabama back into a national powerhouse that shattered an Associated Press poll record for most consecutive seasons at No. 1, announced his retirement Wednesday.

Nick Saban told his team he is retiring Wednesday, ending his legendary coaching career. (Harry How/Getty Images) Saban's retirement is a shocker, as there were no indications that he was ready to end his coaching career so soon.