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Nate Oats shuts down potential Kentucky interest, sticks with Alabama: "I am fully committed to this team"

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim•04/08/24
Alabama coach Nate Oats
Nate Oats (Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports)

Kentucky reportedly expressed interest in Alabama head coach Nate Oats on Monday, despite the $18 million buyout standing between him and free agency. Early rumblings suggested the 49-year-old “does not want to leave,” though the Wildcats would see where things stand regarding their own vacancy left by John Calipari.

It took a matter of minutes for Nate Oats to respond to the report, releasing a statement indicating he is not interested in leaving the place he just led to its first Final Four in history.

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“Bama Nation, I am fully committed to this team and to this University,” Oats said. “We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for the University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball. Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach. Roll Tide!”

This comes shortly after former Villanova coach Jay Wright said he would not be the next leader of the Kentucky basketball program ahead of the national title game.

“That guy that replaces him is going to be in a really difficult position to cover all the areas of college basketball. He’s a college basketball genius,” he said of Calipari’s departure and his potential interest in coaching the Wildcats. “What he did and recruiting and bringing in all those pros and all those guys that come back to Kentucky makes that program as strong as ever. Whoever comes in is coming into a super strong program.”

When asked for a “firm no” from Seth Davis, he gave it.

“Yes, yes,” Wright said.

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