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Current position | |
---|---|
Title | Head coach |
Team | Alabama |
Conference | SEC |
Record | 117–54 (.684) |
Biographical details | |
Born | Watertown, Wisconsin, U.S. | October 13, 1974
Playing career | |
1993–1997 | Maranatha Baptist |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1997–2000 | Maranatha Baptist (assistant) |
2000–2002 | Wisconsin–Whitewater (assistant) |
2002–2013 | Romulus HS (MI) |
2013–2015 | Buffalo (assistant) |
2015–2019 | Buffalo |
2019–present | Alabama |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 214–98 (.686) (college) 222–52 (.810) (high school) |
Tournaments | 10–7 (NCAA Division I) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
NCAA Division I Regional –Final Four (2024) 3 MAC tournament (2016, 2018, 2019) 2 MAC regular season (2018, 2019) 2 MAC East Division (2018, 2019) 2 SEC tournament (2021, 2023) 2 SEC regular season (2021, 2023) | |
Awards | |
2× MAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2019) SEC Coach of the Year (2021) | |
Nathanael Justin Oats (born October 13, 1974) is an American basketball coach, currently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama. Prior to Alabama, he was the head coach at the University at Buffalo.
Oats grew up in Watertown, Wisconsin, where he was a three-year starter on the Maranatha Academy high school basketball team which went 24–0 in his senior year. [1] He stayed in Watertown after high school, playing college basketball at NCCAA Division II/NCAA Division III Maranatha Baptist University. [2] He was an all-conference player and served as a captain of the Crusaders while earning a bachelor's degree in math education. [3] He subsequently received a Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in kinesiology and exercise science. [4]
After finishing his playing career at Maranatha Baptist, Oats became a member of the team's coaching staff in 1997, where he remained until 2000. He then served as an assistant men's basketball coach for the Division-III University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. After the 2002 season, Oats left Wisconsin–Whitewater to become the head basketball coach and a teacher [4] at Romulus High School near Detroit. [3]
Over 11 years at Romulus, Oats accumulated a 222–52 record and reached the semifinals of the state tournament five times. In 2013, Oats led the team to a 27–1 record and a state Class A championship en route to winning multiple coach of the year honors from the local press. He won similar coaching awards in 2005, 2008 and 2009. [3]
While recruiting Romulus guard E. C. Matthews on behalf of Rhode Island in 2013, Bobby Hurley was impressed by Oats' coaching. [5] Shortly thereafter, Hurley was named the head coach at Buffalo and hired Oats as an assistant on his staff. [6]
During his two-year tenure as an assistant, Buffalo had a 42–20 record, won their first Mid-American Conference tournament and made their first ever NCAA tournament appearance. As an assistant at Buffalo, Oats was credited with recruiting Justin Moss, who would go on to win the 2014–15 MAC Player of the Year award. [3]
On April 9, 2015, the same day that Bobby Hurley announced that he would be leaving Buffalo to take the head coaching job at Arizona State, Oats was named the interim head coach at Buffalo. [7] During the days immediately after Hurley announced his departure, Buffalo's athletic director at the time, Danny White, interviewed the team's players, all of whom advocated for Oats becoming the permanent head coach. Also, Hurley told White that he would hire Oats at Arizona State if White did not hire him permanently. In a 2019 ESPN story on Oats, White recalled, "What stood out is the connections he had with our players. His reputation as a high school coach – most people I asked said he ran it like a Division I college program. Players had a strong relationship with him." [8] On April 13, Oats was officially given the head coaching job; his base salary was $250,000. [9] The Buffalo roster for his first season as a head coach featured two former Romulus players: Christian Pino and Raheem Johnson. [5]
In Oats' first season as head coach of Buffalo, he led the Bulls to a 3rd place tie in the Mid-American Conference standings. In the MAC Tournament, Buffalo defeated Miami University, Ohio, and then top-seeded Akron to claim the 2016 conference tournament championship. [10] This has been regarded as an impressive feat due to the off-season turnaround that Oats faced. 2015 MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss was dismissed from the university and second-leading scorer Shannon Evans transferred to Arizona State to play for the newly departed Bobby Hurley. [11] [12] On May 18, 2016, Buffalo Athletic Director Allen Greene announced that the school had agreed on a new five-year contract with Oats. [13]
In Oats' third season, 2017–18, the Bulls began conference play with eight straight wins, the best conference start in team history. [14] The Bulls finished the 2017–18 MAC schedule with a 15–3 record, and Oats was named MAC coach of the year as the Bulls won outright the conference regular season for the first time in team history. [15] The Bulls went on to win the 2018 MAC tournament. [16] On March 8, 2018, Oats signed a contract extension with the University at Buffalo to remain head basketball coach through 2023. [17] Oats' Buffalo Bulls went on to the 2018 NCAA Tournament seeded 13th in the South Region where they convincingly beat the favored 4th seed Arizona Wildcats 89–68. [18]
Oats briefly described his coaching philosophy in the aforementioned 2019 ESPN story, saying, "We did a culture playbook two summers ago and our three main beliefs — core values, we call them — are max effort, continuous growth and selfless love." Since taking over as Buffalo head coach, Oats added what the story called "a blue-collar element to his program that reflects Buffalo itself" — the coaching staff charts what it calls "blue-collar points", defined as any play that contributes to a win but is not recorded in a traditional box score, with examples including but not limited to pass deflections and taking charges. The player with the most such points in a given game receives a construction helmet. [8]
During the 2018–19 regular season, Oats led the Bulls to a 28–3 record and was named 2019 MAC Coach of the Year. [19] [20] On March 14, 2019, Oats signed a contract extension with the University at Buffalo to remain head basketball coach through the 2024 season. [21]
On March 27, 2019, athletic director Greg Byrne named Oats the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. [22] His tenure as of 2021 was viewed as relatively successful, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament in two straight seasons. This success led to Oats signing a 3-year contract extension in February 2021 to remain at Alabama through the 2027 season. [23] This extension also raised Oats' annual compensation to $3.225 million.
At the conclusion of the 2020–21 regular season, and in his second season as head coach, Oats won the SEC Coach of the Year award. [24] The Tide won the SEC regular-season and tournament titles and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2018. [25] [26] They lost the Sweet Sixteen game in overtime to UCLA, 88–78. [27]
Oats led Alabama to the NCAA tournament for four straight seasons, and in 2022–23, the Tide tallied a school-record 31 wins and were (for the first time ever) the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament as both SEC regular season and tournament champions. They would lose to San Diego State in the Sweet 16. Alabama entered the 2024 NCAA tournament as a 4 seed. On March 30, 2024, Oats led the Crimson Tide to a victory of 89-82 over the Clemson Tigers and secured Alabama's first Final Four appearance in the program’s history.
Oats and his wife Crystal have three daughters, Lexie, Jocie and Brielle. [3] In November 2015, Oats announced on his Facebook page that his wife had an aggressive form of lymphoma and would be undergoing chemotherapy. With his wife's encouragement, he confirmed that he would not be renouncing his coaching duties. [28] Oats is a Christian. [29]
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo Bulls (Mid-American Conference)(2015–2019) | |||||||||
2015–16 | Buffalo | 20–15 | 10–8 | T–3rd (East) | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
2016–17 | Buffalo | 17–15 | 11–7 | 3rd (East) | |||||
2017–18 | Buffalo | 27–9 | 15–3 | 1st (East) | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
2018–19 | Buffalo | 32–4 | 16–2 | 1st (East) | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
Buffalo: | 96–43 (.691) | 52–20 (.722) | |||||||
Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference)(2019–present) | |||||||||
2019–20 | Alabama | 16–15 | 8–10 | 9th | |||||
2020–21 | Alabama | 26–7 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Division I Sweet 16 | ||||
2021–22 | Alabama | 19–14 | 9–9 | T–5th | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
2022–23 | Alabama | 31–6 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Division I Sweet 16 | ||||
2023–24 | Alabama | 25–12 | 13–5 | T–2nd | NCAA Division I Final Four | ||||
Alabama: | 117–54 (.684) | 62–28 (.689) | |||||||
Total: | 213–97 (.687) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The program plays in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In the conference it trails only long-time basketball powerhouse Kentucky in SEC tournament titles, is third behind Kentucky and Arkansas in total wins, and is third behind Kentucky and Tennessee in SEC regular season conference titles. Alabama was retroactively recognized as the pre-NCAA tournament national champion for the 1929–30 season by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. The team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 24 times, most recently in 2024, and has made ten Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights, and one Final Four in the tournament. Alabama's current head coach is Nate Oats.
The Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represents the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, United States. The team currently competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division. Buffalo began play in 1915 and joined the MAC in 1998. They won their first MAC East Division title in 2009, and won a third MAC East Division title in 2015 along with their first outright MAC Regular-Season championship and first MAC Tournament title to earn the program's first bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Bulls also have six appearances in the NCAA College Division Basketball Championship between 1957 and 1965 and two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their head coach position was filled on March 30, 2023 when Buffalo hired Villanova associate head coach George Halcovage.
The Buffalo Bulls are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University at Buffalo (UB) in Buffalo, New York. The Bulls compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division, having joined the conference in 1998. Buffalo sponsors teams in seven men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level for college football.
Daniel J. White is an American university sports administrator. He is the athletic director for the Tennessee Volunteers. White held the same position at the University at Buffalo from 2012 to 2015 and the University of Central Florida from 2015 to 2021. Prior to his tenure at Buffalo, he was the senior associate athletic director for Ole Miss.
The 2013–14 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by first year head coach Bobby Hurley, played their home games at Alumni Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 19–10, 13–5 in MAC play to be champions of the East division. They lost in the semifinals of the MAC tournament to Eastern Michigan. Despite the 19 wins and the division title, the Bulls did not participate in postseason play.
The 2015–16 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the University at Buffalo during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by first year head coach Nate Oats, played their home games at Alumni Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 20–15, 10–8 in MAC play to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division and third place overall. They defeated Miami (OH), Ohio, and Akron to be champions of the MAC tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. In their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, they lost to Miami (FL) in the first round.
Bryan Hodgson is an American college basketball coach who is currently serving as the head coach of the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
The 2016–17 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the State University of New York at Buffalo during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by second-year head coach Nate Oats, played their home games at Alumni Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 17–14, 11–7 in MAC play to finish in a tie for second place. As the No. 3 seed in the MAC tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals to Kent State.
The 2017–18 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the State University of New York at Buffalo during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by third-year head coach Nate Oats, played their home games at Alumni Arena in Amherst, New York as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 27–9, 15–3 in MAC play to win the MAC East Division and regular season championships. they defeated Central Michigan, Kent State, and Toledo to win the MAC tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 13 seed in the South region, they upset Arizona in the First Round before losing to Kentucky in the Second Round.
Charlie Henry is an American basketball coach, currently the head coach for the Georgia Southern men's basketball team of the Sun Belt Conference.
The 2018–19 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Avery Johnson and played its home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 18–16, 8–10 in SEC play to finish in a tie for ninth place in SEC play. They defeated Ole Miss to advance to the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament where they lost to Kentucky. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Norfolk State.
Jarryn Skeete is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Sudbury Five of the National Basketball League of Canada. He played college basketball for Buffalo.
The 2018–19 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represented the State University of New York at Buffalo during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by fourth-year head coach Nate Oats, played their home games at Alumni Arena in Amherst, New York as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
The 2019–20 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by first-year head coach Nate Oats, The Crimson Tide played their home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 16–15, 8–10 in SEC play to finish in ninth place. They were set to take on Tennessee in the second round of the SEC tournament. However, they remainder of the SEC Tournament was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christian Jalon Massinburg is an American professional basketball player for Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and EuroCup. He played college basketball for the Buffalo Bulls. He was named the 2019 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. He previously played for the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League and Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A.
The 2019–20 Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team represents the University at Buffalo during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulls, led by first-year head coach Jim Whitesell, play their home games at Alumni Arena in Amherst, New York as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
The 2020–21 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by second-year head coach Nate Oats. They played their home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Crimson Tide won the regular season Southeastern Conference Championship, marking the team's first championship since 2002. They also won the SEC tournament, their first win in that competition since 1991 and the first time since 1987 that the program won both the regular season and tournament.
The 2021–22 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team is led by third-year head coach Nate Oats. They played their home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 19–14, 9–9 in SEC Play to finish a five-way tie for 5th place. They lost in the Second Round of the SEC tournament to Vanderbilt. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 seed in the West Region, where they were upset in the First Round by Notre Dame.
The 2017–18 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2017, followed by the start of the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2018 and concluded in March 2018. Buffalo won the regular season title with a conference record of 15-3. Buffalo also won the MAC tournament and represented the MAC in the NCAA tournament where they defeated No. 4-seeded Arizona in the first round before falling to Kentucky in the second round.
The 2022–23 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Nate Oats. They played their home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 31–6, 16–2 in SEC play to win the regular season championship. They defeated Mississippi State, Missouri, and Texas A&M to win the SEC tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the South region. As the number one overall seed in the tournament, they defeated Texas A&M–Corpus Christi and Maryland to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. There they were upset by San Diego State.