Nate Oats Signs New Alabama Contract to Become Top-5 Highest-Paid NCAA CBB HC Amid UNC Rumors

After being rumored to be a potential candidate to take the head coaching job at UNC, Alabama head coach Nate Oats isn't going anywhere.

Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne announced on Sunday that Oats signed a contract extension with the Crimson Tide that will make him one of the top-five highest-paid coaches in the nation.

After UNC fired head coach Hubert Davis last month, Oats was mentioned among the potential targets for the Tar Heels in their search for a replacement. However, he told reporters before Alabama's loss to Michigan in the Sweet 16 that he didn't plan on pursuing the opening at UNC or anywhere else.

"I'm not a guy that's always trying to jump around … I love Alabama. My girls love Alabama. … [Alabama] is doing everything we can to make sure we've got a competitive program. As long as we're able to compete to win championships here … I'd love to be the coach to bring us our first national championship. To me, there's absolutely no reason to leave here. … I'm not a guy that's looking to get out of here any time soon," Oats said, adding that he hadn't had any discussions with any other program, "nor do I plan on talking to anybody."

Oats has coached the Crimson Tide to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The team finished the 2025-26 season with a 25-10 record.

After Oats' extension, UNC will have to turn its attention elsewhere in its head coaching search, but the list of big-name candidates is starting to get thin.