This one has been out there for a few days, but Alabama made it official today. Here’s the statement released by the Crimson Tide on head men’s basketball coach Nate Oats’ contract extension:
University of Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced head men’s basketball coach Nate Oats and the University have agreed to a raise and contract extension, which was approved Monday by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.
The new agreement will extend his current contract by one season to keep him in charge of the Crimson Tide basketball program through March 14, 2030. The compensation package will increase annually throughout the length of the contract.
“I am excited and honored for the chance to extend my relationship with the University of Alabama,” Oats said. “I have said from day one, my family and I love this community, the city of Tuscaloosa and the University so I am thankful and appreciative for all the support we have received from President Stuart Bell, Chancellor St. John, The Board of Trustees and Greg Byrne. We have enjoyed tremendous success during our five years at Alabama and we look forward to building on that for many years to come.”
Now in his fifth season at the helm of the Crimson Tide program, Oats has led Alabama to a 113-53 overall record and a winning percentage of .681, highlighted by a pair of SEC regular season championships, two SEC Tournament championships and two trips to the NCAA Sweet 16.
This season, Oats has guided Alabama to a 21-11 overall record and a 13-5 mark in SEC play, posting back-to-back 13-win seasons in the SEC for the first time since 1986-87. The Tide is currently ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 and will make its fourth-straight NCAA tournament appearance, which marks the first time since 2003-06 that the Tide advanced to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
“Coach Oats has done a phenomenal job leading Alabama men’s basketball, and we look forward to him doing so for many years to come,” said Byrne. “He is not only a great coach but is also an outstanding leader and developer of young men, and we appreciate his commitment to our program. Thank you to President Bell, Chancellor St. John and our Board of Trustees for their approval in this process.”
Alabama has not only seen success on the court but also in the classroom, as the team posted a 3.37 fall grade point average (GPA), the program’s highest-ever team GPA. The Tide has also had a 100 percent graduation success rate for all student-athletes exhausting eligibility.
Oats and his staff continue to make waves on the recruiting trail as the Tide has had four straight top-15 signing classes for the first time in the modern era for Alabama basketball. That includes the No. 4 overall 2024 signing class highlighted by McDonald’s All-Americans Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell. Under the leadership of Oats, UA has had six players selected in the NBA Draft and has nine total former players competing professionally that were coached by Oats at the Capstone.
