Alabama basketball rewarding Nate Oats with lucrative contract extension

Alabama basketball is firing on all cylinders this season, going 19-3 overall and 9-0 in the SEC, putting them in first place. And amid their impressive campaign, the Crimson Tide are set to reward head coach Nate Oats with a new contract. As Jon Rothstein reported, Oats is set to sign an extension through 2028-29 worth more than $4 million a year.

Oats has been in charge of the program since March 2019 after four seasons as the University at Buffalo coach. Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, he has appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice, with Bama losing in the Sweett 16 in 2020-21.

In 2022-23, Alabama looks like a legitimate No. 1 seed heading into March Madness, ranking seventh in the nation in PPG, first in rebounds and 12th in defensive rating. Brandon Miller and Mark Sears are both battling to lead the way in the tide. They even beat Houston, one of the title favorites.

Oats previously signed an extension in February 2021 which would keep him at school until 2027. This new contract ensures the 48-year-old is in it for the long haul barring unforeseen circumstances.

This news comes just days after Alabama basketball completely destroyed Vanderbilt by a score of 101-44. Their only losses came against Gonzaga, UConn and Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide are back in action this weekend against LSU on the road.

As for Nate Oats, he’s going nowhere, and Tuscaloosa fans are hoping he’ll guide the team to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament while proving they’re more than just a football school.