Nate Oats, Alabama Agree to New Contract; Reportedly Will Be Among Top-Paid CBB HCs

Alabama men's basketball head coach Nate Oats has agreed to a new contract with the school, athletic director Greg Byrne announced on Friday.

While the exact value of the deal is unknown, ESPN's Jeff Borzello noted that Oats will become one of the five highest-paid coaches in the nation after board approval.

The Crimson Tide have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons and have also won two SEC regular-season titles under the former Buffalo head coach.

Oats was hired by Alabama in 2019 after four years at his prior stop. He helped lead Buffalo to three NCAA Tournament appearances during that time, while the Bulls finished with a record of 32-4 during his final season with the program.

The Crimson Tide have experienced similar levels of success following his arrival, owning a record of 113-52 in the regular season since he took over. Several players that he's coached at Alabama in the past have advanced to the NBA including Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller, New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones, and Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis.

Oats previously received a six-year contract from the school worth $30 million in Feb. 2023, resulting in an average value of $5 million as well as incentives. With recent job openings at programs such as Louisville and Michigan, it seems as though Byrne is ensuring that his head coach doesn't consider leaving anytime soon.

In the present, Oats is helping Alabama attempt to win its third SEC tournament in four years. Although his team was unable to capture the conference's regular-season title, they still finished with a commendable record of 21-10.

The Crimson Tide are currently set to face off against Florida in the SEC tournament quarterfinals on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.