Nate Oats is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama. He was appointed in March 2019, succeeding Avery Johnson. Oats previously served as the head coach at the University at Buffalo from 2015 to 2019, where he led the Bulls to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. His coaching career began at Romulus High School in Michigan, where he achieved a 222–52 record over 11 seasons. In February 2021, Oats received a contract extension through the 2026-27 season, reportedly worth $3.225 million per year. Under his leadership, Alabama’s men’s basketball team has seen significant success, including winning the SEC tournament in 2021 and 2023, and securing the SEC regular-season title in 2021 and 2023. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Oats guided Alabama to the Final Four, marking the program’s first appearance since 2004. However, in the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Alabama fell to Duke with a score of 85-65, ending their championship aspirations for that season.