University of Alabama Athletics

When Nate Oats was formally introduced as head men's basketball coach at The University of Alabama on March 28, 2019, he promised fans would see an entertaining, up-tempo and fast-paced style of play. And that's exactly what he has delivered during his three years in Tuscaloosa.

Oats continues to lead the Crimson Tide men's basketball resurgence to national prominence, having guided his team to 92 wins, highlighted by a pair of SEC Regular Season championships, two SEC Tournament championships and two trips to the Sweet 16. Oats is the only coach in program history to win multiple SEC regular season and tournament championships. He has compiled a record of 92-41 (.692) in his four years at The Capstone. In fact, in his eight years as a head coach, Oats owns an impressive record of 188-84 (.691) and has led his teams to NCAA Tournament appearances six separate times with one of those years being the global pandemic.

After agreeing to a contract extension during the 2020-21 season, Oats received a contract extension midway through the 2022-23 season that is set to keep him in charge of the Crimson Tide basketball program through the 2029 season.

"I am honored and humbled to receive a contract extension from The University of Alabama," Oats said." As I have said many times, my family and I love this community, the city of Tuscaloosa and the University. I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to build during our time at UA which is a direct reflection of the student-athletes, coaches and staff who have all played a big part in our success. I am excited for what's happening in the future of our program and the direction we are heading. I cannot thank President Stuart Bell, Chancellor St. John, The Board of Trustees and Greg Byrne enough for trusting me to lead this program for the long term.”

"Coach Oats has done an outstanding job leading our men's basketball program, and we want him to continue doing so for many years to come," said Greg Byrne. "He and his staff have lifted the program back to national prominence and built a product that is exciting to be a part of for our team and for our fans. We were confident Nate was going to be an outstanding coach for us when we hired him, and he is not only that, but also a great leader of our young men. It was important for us to make sure Coach Oats was compensated towards the top of the SEC and continue to have buyout measures in place that affirm the long-term commitment between both parties. We appreciate the support of President Bell, Chancellor St. John and our Board of Trustees for their approval in this process."

Whether it's on the court, in the classroom or out recruiting future Crimson Tide stars, Oats has returned a winning attitude around the Alabama program. Much of that he credits to instilling three core values that make up the pillars on which the team's culture is built – Max Effort, Continuous Growth and Selfless Love.

Alabama - Head Coach (2019-Present)

• Compiled 92 wins in his first four seasons highlighted by a pair of SEC Regular Season championships, two SEC Tournament championships and two trips to the Sweet 16
• Coached six players that have been selected in the NBA Draft, including tying the program-record for highest draft pick in program history in Brandon Miller (Selected No. 2 by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft)
• Led Alabama to the overall No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history
• Won a program-record 31 games in 2023 including sweeping the SEC regular season and tournament championships
• In his four seasons at Alabama, Oats has won 49 Southeastern Conference games, which is tied for most in the SEC along with Kentucky during that span
• Oats and the Crimson Tide have risen to the challenge as Alabama has 15 AP Top 25 wins including defeating the No. 1 team in the country twice during the 2022-23 season, becoming the first team since 1965-66 (Duke) with multiple wins over the AP No. 1 team before the New Year.
• 2021 SEC Coach of the Year after leading the Tide to the 2021 SEC regular season and tournament championships in his second season at Alabama
• Since arriving on campus, Oats has signed four consecutive top-15 signing classes
• Coached Brandon Miller who became the first SEC player to win SEC Freshman of the Year, Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season
• Since taking over the reigns in 2019, 30 men's basketball players have been named to either the SEC Academic Honor Roll or SEC First Year Honor Roll while nine have graduated and earned a diploma
• Under Oats' leadership, the team set a record for cumulative grade point average of 3.25 in 2022 while maintaining a team GPA over above 3.0 during his time at the helm
• Buffalo – Head Coach (2015-19)
• Primary responsibilities included video services for Clemson men's basketball. Claunch spent three seasons with the Tigers overall, having previously served as a graduate manager from 2013-15.
• Oats led the Bulls to a 96-43 (.691) record, three MAC tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the round of 32 in 2018 and 2019
• Named the MAC's Coach of the Year and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 14 Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2018 and 2019)
• Oats guided Buffalo to a 32-4 overall record and a 16-2 mark in conference play in 2018-19, leading the program to its second consecutive MAC regular season and tournament championships
• The Bulls were ranked for 20 weeks in the Associated Press Top-25 during the 2019 season
• During the 2017-18 season, Oats led the Bulls to a record of 27-9 overall and 15-3 in the MAC. In doing so, he secured Buffalo's first victory in the NCAA Tournament, defeating No. 4 seed and PAC-12 Champion Arizona, 89-68, in Boise, Idaho.

Buffalo - Assistant Coach (2013-15)

• Spent two seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Bulls
• Won the 2015 MAC Tournament, appearing in the NCAA Tournament against West Virginia

Romulus High School - Head Coach (2002-13)

• Spent 11 seasons as head coach at Romulus High School in Michigan
• Won the school's first state title in 27 years in 2012-13 and finishing the season at 27-1
• Named the 2013 Detroit News State Coach of the Year, the Detroit Free Press State Coach of the Year, and the BCAM State Coach of the Year
• Honors also include 2009 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Class A Coach of the Year, 2008 Detroit Free Press Metro Detroit Coach of the Year, and 2005 Detroit News Metro Detroit Coach of the Year and Detroit Free Press Metro West Coach of the Year
• In his time as a head coach, he led the team to a 222-52 overall record and seven straight conference championships while going undefeated in conference play over four consecutive seasons
• Romulus was ranked in the top-25 nationally on three occasions (2010, 2011, 2013) and made the Michigan Class A Final Four five times
• Oats oversaw a program that had a 100 percent graduation rate with 40 of his 42 seniors at Romulus continuing to college

Personal Info

• Native of Watertown, Wisconsin
• Earned a master's degrees of science in kinesiology and exercise science from Wisconsin in 1999
• Graduated with his bachelor's degree in math education in 1997 from Maranatha Baptist
• Nate and his wife Crystal are the proud parents of three girls – Lexie, Jocie and Brielle