Alabama officially announces Ryan Pannone as basketball assistant

Alabama head basketball coach Nate Oats on Wednesday officially announced the addition of Ryan Pannone to his coaching staff, giving the Crimson Tide two assistants for 2023-24.

“Over my last four years at Alabama, I have gotten to know Ryan through his work with the Pelicans organization,” Oats said in a release. “He is one of the brightest minds in the game of basketball and a relentless worker. Ryan brings a wealth of Xs and Os experience to Tuscaloosa from his time coaching in the NBA, G League, and overseas. 

“He is recognized as a top recruiter and a leader in player development, both crucial to the long and short-term success of our program. We are excited Ryan is on board working with our student-athletes. Not only is he a fantastic coach, but he is an even better person and a proven mentor of young men. I am sure Ryan and his family will become a valued part of the Tuscaloosa community.”

Pannone is a former assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans who was promoted to the NBA coaching staff for the 2022-23 season after leading the franchise’s G League team – first named the Erie BayHawks before becoming the Birmingham Squadron – from 2019-22. Shortly after New Orleans’ season ended, Pannone’s name was then quickly linked to the Tide.

Pannone spent a large chunk of his coaching career in international leagues, where he spent time in China, Germany, Israel and Slovakia. He was an assistant coach for Hapoel Jerusalem from 2016-17 and 2018-19, winning the Israeli League championship in 2017 and Israeli State Cup in 2019, both as an assistant. A native of Clearwater, Fla., Pannone graduated from South Florida and began his career as an assistant coach at Wallace State (Ala.) Community College in 2011 before moving on to be an assistant for the Foshan Long Lions located in China. 

“I am extremely honored to join The University of Alabama and Coach Oats’ staff,” Pannone said in a release. “The chance to join a legendary school with a basketball program that is among the best in the country is a privilege. Coach Oats leads a team that competes with NBA-style ball and runs NBA sets, so to have the opportunity to leverage my NBA experience to mentor and raise up student-athletes was a rare and rewarding offer I couldn’t pass up.”

Oats and Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne were actually in New Orleans for the play-in game between the Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder to watch former UA stars Herb Jones and Kira Lewis. That trip had more than one purpose. Oats is familiar with Pannone, who coached John Petty and other players during his time as head coach of the Squadron.

“Ryan’s actually a really sharp coach,” Oats said back in 2021. “Good Xs and Os guy with a good mind. He came down and met with some of our assistants. I was out of town, but I’m interested to watch them play. I want to go and watch them practice a bit and just kind of pick his brain, too.” 

The Crimson Tide is tasked with replacing all three assistant coaches that have been part of Oats’ staff for the last four seasons. Charlie Henry was first hired as the head coach at Georgia Southern, then Bryan Hodgson landed the head coaching position at Arkansas State. And most recently, longtime assistant Antoine Pettway was hired as Kennesaw State’s coach. Alabama already announced the hiring of Austin Claunch and still has one more opening to fill.

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