Nick Saban set for hip replacement as he plans to stay at Alabama for 'a lot more years'

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The pain “came out of nowhere,” and did not go away. And if you’re wondering why Nick Saban chose now – or next week, rather – to have his right hip replaced, this is why: He has no plans to go away, either.

Saban, 67, has won five national championships in 11 seasons at Alabama, and clearly has designs on more of both. The last time we saw the Crimson Tide, it was losing in stunning fashion, 44-16 to Clemson in the College Football Playoff national championship game. That was followed by dramatic turnover in the coaching staff. But even if urgency does not have to be manufactured in Tuscaloosa this offseason, there’s also not much reason for concern – the dynasty is not crumbling away.

But at least one thing has to get fixed.

“I never noticed my hip at all until the first day of spring practice,” Saban told USA TODAY Sports. “I ran out on the field and it felt like I got a hip flexor. It didn’t feel like it was some injury or something like that, but it never went away and it actually kept almost getting worse.”

Saban has exhibited vitality that makes him seem younger than his age. He said if he weren’t coaching he would postpone the procedure for as long as he could – “If I was a normal guy,” he put it, “I would wait and not do this right now” – which is why in one way, the decision serves as a tangible answer to an annual offseason question.

“I don’t want to coach for one more year,” Saban told reporters after Alabama’s spring game. “I want to coach for a lot of more years.”

But the job entails an active, physical lifestyle, even during the offseason.

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“I don’t want to be in position where I can’t do that,” he said.

And Saban, who was limping while moving around the Alabama football facility earlier this week, said the pain is pronounced in certain activities – and nonexistent in others. Climbing stairs, running, sometimes even bending over to tie his shoes is painful.

“That’s what gets me,” he said. “But turning and swinging a golf club? It hurts more to get out of the cart than it does to swing the club.”

Saban expects to be up and around shortly after the procedure, which is scheduled for Monday. But his golf season, which typically begins after spring practice and runs into the summer, will be curtailed.

“The only thing I hate about it is, I’ll have to not play golf for six weeks or so,” he said. “… But this is the best time for me to do it. I do a lot of speaking and evaluating and film work and stuff like that, but we’re not practicing. Other than playing golf, I probably wouldn’t be very active. So this is the best time, and then it gives me a lot of summer to get back in shape.”