New details emerge on Nate Oats’ Alabama contract

Alabama has locked down its basketball future with Nate Oats, reportedly giving him a contract extension and a massive pay bump. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein was first to say Oats would stay in Tuscaloosa through the 2028-2029 season while making an “excess” of $4 million.

New details have emerged on the deal, also coming from Rothstein. The salary will be even higher for Oats, with Alabama shelling out “approximately” $5 million a year for their head coach. Incentives will be added as well, giving plenty of financial stability to Oats.

“Oats is now one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball,” Rothstein said in the tweet.

SEC programs have really invested in basketball recently, with top-level head coaches joining the conference. John Calipari has been at Kentucky for some time and has been the dominant team over the years. However, Alabama has joined the likes of Arkansas, Auburn, and Tennessee in taking basketball more seriously.

This type of contract from athletic director Greg Byrne shows exactly that. Oats is going to be leading Alabama for at least the next six years, hoping to continue the winning culture he has brought to Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama basketball excelling under Nate Oats

Alabama has excelled since hiring Oats from Buffalo — replacing Avery Johnson. They are on track to make a third straight NCAA Tournament bid, currently sitting with a one-seed in the latest Bracketology update from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. If the Crimson Tide can see the season out and keep their spot, it would be a first for the program.

Championships are already being won as well, taking home an SEC regular season and tournament title during the 2020-2021 season. Oats led the Crimson Tide to a Sweet Sixteen that season as well — being the first since 2004. An overtime loss to UCLA ruined what was a dream run in Indianapolis.

This season’s team might be Oats’ best of his four years spent in Tuscaloosa though. Alabama currently sits at 19-3 and is coming off a historic blowout win against Vanderbilt. Nine consecutive SEC wins have the Crimson Tide undefeated in conference play with a two-game cushion over Tennessee.

As things stand, Alabama is in a great position to snag another regular season title. Two in three years would be a first since the mid-1970s. Something special is brewing this season with national championship hopes growing as the college basketball calendar turns to February.