Nate Oats

Nate Oats is a respected American basketball coach who has had a successful career coaching at both the high school and college levels. He is currently the head coach at the University of Alabama, where he has led the Crimson Tide to the NCAA tournament in each of his first two seasons. Prior to his time at Alabama, Oats was the head coach at the University at Buffalo, where he built the Bulls into a Mid-American Conference (MAC) powerhouse.

Oats’ success at Buffalo earned him the opportunity to coach at a higher level, and he has made the most of it at Alabama. In his first season with the Crimson Tide, he led the team to a 16-15 record and an appearance in the SEC tournament semifinals. The following season, he guided Alabama to a 26-7 record, a share of the SEC regular-season title, and a spot in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16.

Oats’ coaching philosophy emphasizes a blue-collar approach to the game, with a focus on effort, growth, and selflessness. He has implemented a system of “blue-collar points” to recognize the contributions of his players that may not show up in the box score, such as taking charges and making deflections. Oats’ teams are known for their high-energy, up-tempo style of play, with an emphasis on three-point shooting and aggressive defense. With his track record of success, it is clear that Oats is one of the top coaches in college basketball today.