Particle.news
Download on the App Store
15 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Alabama Locks In Nate Oats With New Deal Making Him a Top-Five Paid Coach

The move underscores Alabama’s bid to retain a proven winner during a fast-moving coaching market.

Image
Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats looks on in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Image
Image

Overview

  • Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne announced Sunday that Nate Oats signed a new contract that places him among the five highest-paid men’s college basketball coaches, with formal board approval still pending.
  • Multiple outlets report the agreement runs through the 2031-32 season, and while terms were not disclosed, top-five public-school pay last season started around $6.1 million, per USA Today data.
  • The decision effectively removes Oats from North Carolina’s coaching search after Hubert Davis was fired, matching Oats’ recent pledge that he did not plan to discuss other jobs.
  • Since arriving in 2019, Oats is 170-73 at Alabama with six straight NCAA Tournament bids, highlighted by a 2024 Final Four and this season’s 25-10 campaign that ended in the Sweet 16.
  • Programs linked to UNC targets have moved to keep their coaches, as Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Vanderbilt’s Mark Byington also secured extensions in recent days.