Nate Oats shares how Nick Saban has assisted in Alabama basketball recruiting

Nick Saban’s value as the head coach of Alabama’s football program is clear. He has won six national championships with the Crimson Tide, and seven total in his head coaching career. Saban’s success not only directly benefits Alabama on the football field, but it has lasting impacts in other sports as well, according to basketball coach Nate Oats.

Oats said that he and Saban have a good relationship at Alabama. Saban tries to help out where he can, meaning he sometimes talks to basketball recruits when they come to Tuscaloosa on official visits. Oats said that Saban’s willingness to help has proven to be valuable.

“He’s been really good with recruiting with us,” Oats said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “He goes out of his way to make sure he has time when we have kids on official visits. But you walk in and he’s got an aura about him. He’s won seven national championships. You’re going to listen to what he has to say. Even if you’re not (into football), he’s arguably the best team sport coach in modern history.”

Oats: Listening to Saban talk to recruits motivates me

Saban’s status as the greatest coach in college football is set in stone. He has built a dynasty on the football field. Oats is appreciative of Saban’s willingness to help him out when it comes to recruiting at Alabama.

While Saban doesn’t directly aid Oats on the recruiting trail, his willingness to simply talk to these recruits is something that no other school can offer. Saban is able to represent the University as a whole in trying to help recruits understand what Alabama has to offer.

“Shoot, he’s won everywhere he’s been at,” Oats said of Saban at Alabama. “He won a championship at LSU, he’s won six here. So kids will always ask him different stuff. But he’s always talking about what it takes to be successful, how do you add value to yourself as a player, what the university has to add value to them, what they have to do for themselves to add value.

“It’s almost motivational. I get myself motivated to be a better coach sometimes when I’m sitting in there listening to him talk to recruits. They all take it well. He does a really good job with it.”

As Saban and Alabama are doing well this season in football, Oats is also seeing success on the basketball court. Alabama is currently 4-0 on the season. A tough portion of the schedule is approaching for Oats, as Alabama has a three game stretch against Gonzaga, Houston, and Memphis to begin December.