Nate Oats

Nate Oats, born on October 13, 1974, in Watertown, Wisconsin, embarked on his basketball journey playing for Maranatha Baptist University where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in Math Education. He continued his academic pursuits, receiving a Master of Science in kinesiology and exercise science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Oats began his coaching career as an assistant at Maranatha Baptist from 1997 to 2000, followed by a stint at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2000 to 2002. His leadership skills were further honed during his eleven years as head coach at Romulus High School in Michigan, where he achieved a 222-52 record and secured the school’s first state title in 27 years during the 2012-13 season. His success in high school basketball, including multiple coach of the year honors, paved the way for his transition to collegiate coaching.

Oats joined the University of Buffalo as an assistant coach in 2013, quickly making an impact by helping the Bulls achieve a 42-20 record and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2015, he was appointed head coach at Buffalo, where he led the team to unprecedented success over four seasons, including a 96-43 record, three Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament championships, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He was recognized as the MAC Coach of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. In 2019, Oats was named head men’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama. Under his guidance, Alabama’s program has seen significant revitalization, marked by a 145-63 record, two SEC regular season championships, two SEC tournament championships, and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, culminating in the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2024. He was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2021 and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to player development, resulting in multiple NBA Draft picks.

Beyond on-court achievements, Oats emphasizes academic success and community involvement, with numerous players earning SEC Academic Honor Roll distinctions and the team maintaining a GPA above 3.0. His recruiting efforts have also yielded top-10 classes in 2020 and 2021, featuring multiple five-star prospects and McDonald’s All-Americans. Oats’ coaching philosophy revolves around three core values: Max Effort, Continuous Growth, and Selfless Love, which he credits for fostering a winning culture within the program. His tenure at Alabama has reinvigorated the fanbase and solidified the Crimson Tide’s position as one of the top collegiate basketball programs nationally.