The head coach of Alabama football expressed his desire to step down due to his illness.

The head coach of Alabama football expressed his desire to step down due to his illness.

An internet allegation that his wife Terry, who is affectionately referred to as “Miss Terry” by supporters of the University of Alabama football team, was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or another condition has been refuted by Nick Saban.

“Miss Terry is doing well. In an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Rece Davis on January 11, 2024, Saban declared, “I’m fine.” This came just a day after he had announced his retirement from coaching the Alabama Crimson Tide after 17 seasons.

The rumor that had no supporting evidence began to circulate on social media, message boards, and Google search results as a result of the retirement news. The rumors often suggested that his wife’s condition was somehow connected to his retirement.

Regarding the actual cause according to Saban, the reason he made the decision to resign was because, at his age, he didn’t think he could continue to live up to the standards he felt were essential for success as the team’s head coach.

“To be honest, this last season was grueling,” the 72-year-old Saban remarked after his 12-2 campaign, which featured victories over the then-No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference championship and a narrow overtime loss to the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl game.

“It was a real grind for us to come from where we started to where we got to,” Saban said. “It required a bit more of more of myself than usual. And when the health issue was brought up, it was really just a matter of trying to figure out how to accomplish things the way you wanted to. Is it possible for you to continue doing it the way you have for the duration of the season? And considering those two sets of circumstances—that there’s never a good time, as I mentioned—I reasoned that perhaps now was the appropriate moment to take action if I couldn’t commit to doing that in the future the way I believe I have to. However, I considered whether now would be a good time.

And Davis said, ‘So, there’s no sickness? It’s just the season’s slog and tedium.”

“Yes, there isn’t a sickness,” Saban replied. “Miss Terry is doing well. I’m alright. However, it was more about whether you could endure the season mentally.

Prior to that, in 2003, Saban guided the LSU Tigers to a single national championship. He also won six more during his tenure at Alabama, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest coaches in sports history.