Following-up on earlier reports…Nate Oats contract extension at Alabama is now official. Here’s the official press release from the Crimson Tide:
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 Friday by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.
The new agreement will extend his current contract by two seasons to six years and keep him in charge of the Crimson Tide basketball program through March 14, 2029. The base salary and talent fee of $4.5 million for the current contract year will begin to rise in 2024 and increase annually throughout the length of the contract.
“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.”
Now in his fourth season at the helm of the Crimson Tide program, Oats has led Alabama to an 80-39 overall record and a winning percentage of .672, highlighted by a 2021 Southeastern Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship. This season, Oats has guided Alabama to a 19-3 overall record and a 9-0 mark in SEC play thus far. The Tide is currently ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Top 25, which is the highest ranking in the AP Poll this late in the season since 1976-77. Alabama is on pace to make the NCAA tournament for the third straight season, which would mark the first time since 2004-06 that the Tide advanced to three consecutive NCAA tournaments.
“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 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.”
Alabama has not only seen success on the court but also in the classroom, as the team posted a 3.25 fall grade point average (GPA), the program’s highest-ever team GPA. Three student-athletes were named to the President’s List and another five to the Dean’s List.
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. Under the leadership of Oats, UA has had four players selected in the NBA Draft and has eight total former players competing professionally that were coached by Oats at the Capstone.
Prior to coming to Alabama, Oats spent four seasons (2015-19) at the University at Buffalo where he led the Bulls to a 96-43 (.691) record, three Mid-American Conference Tournament Championships and three NCAA tournament appearances. He was named the MAC 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) and finished fourth in the voting for the 2019 Associated Press Men’s College Coach of the Year.
