Alabama’s Nick Saban is staying put, apparently for the duration of his coaching career.
The university announced Friday night that Saban has reached “a long-term agreement” to remain with the Crimson Tide.
“We are very pleased to have this agreement completed,” Saban said in a statement. “(Wife) Terry and our family are very happy in Tuscaloosa. It has become home to us. This agreement allows us to continue to build on the tremendous success that we have enjoyed to this point — successes that have transcended the football field. We are excited about the future and the University of Alabama is where I plan to end my coaching career.”
Alabama didn’t release terms of the deal, which must be approved by the board of trustees.
Saban received an eight-year deal in March 2012 worth about $5.6 million annually and seems likely to remain college football’s highest-paid coach.
The agreement quells speculation that Saban would take over at Texas if Mack Brown steps down. Saban, who turned 62 on Oct. 31, has led the Tide to three national championships in the past four years with no signs of fading from annual contention.
“Coach Saban is the best in the business and has led our program to the pinnacle of college football,” Alabama athletic director Bill Battle said. “This agreement is a strong indication of our mutual commitment to building on the foundation he has established.”
The third-ranked Tide was on the verge of another Southeastern Conference, and perhaps national title, before losing 34-28 to No. 2 Auburn in the regular-season finale on a last-play 109-yard return of a missed field goal.
Alabama will play Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 in New Orleans.
Saban has said multiple times that he’s too old “to go someplace else and start over.”
“I’m very committed to the University of Alabama, love being here,” he said in November. “We’ve talked about it before. Don’t need to talk about it again. “