Oats Stands Firm: Alabama Coach Shuts Down Kentucky Rumors with Commitment Statement
Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats said Monday he’s “fully committed” to the team and school amid reports that Oats would be a candidate for Kentucky’s opening.
“We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for The University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball,” Oats wrote in a statement posted on X. “Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach.”
The word on Sunday that longtime Kentucky coach John Calipari is close to signing a contract to take the same position at Arkansas precedes Oats’ announcement by one day.
Oats, 49, has spent five seasons with the Crimson Tide and has a record of 117-54. In his four NCAA Tournament runs, he has guided Alabama to four appearances, the most recent of which was an 86-72 defeat to the top-seeded UConn Huskies in the Final Four.
Because of Oats’s success, Alabama’s leadership was able to reach a long-term agreement with the coach last month. According to ESPN, Oats became one of the top five paid coaches in the nation with that contract.
“We are excited about the success of our men’s basketball program and Nate’s continued commitment to the university,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in a statement at the time. “We look forward to him leading our men’s basketball program for many years to come.”
Under Oats, the Crimson Tide have won two SEC regular season titles (2021, 2023) as well as two SEC Tournament titles (2021, 2023). This past season, they finished 25-12.
Alabama had not progressed past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2004 before Oats arrived in 2019. Under Oats, the Crimson Tide set a school record with 31 victories in 2022–23 and, for the first time in program history, were the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
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(Photo: Jordan Prather / USA Today)