Nate Oats is the head basketball coach at the University of Alabama. He was a head coach at the University of Buffalo before joining Alabama and also served as the assistant coach at the University of Buffalo, with a 42-20 record in two years.
He helped lead the team to their first Mid-American Conference Tournament win and first appearance in the NCAA tournament. He is credited with recruiting Justin Moss, who won the MAC Player of the Year award in 2014-15.
Nate Oats Early Life, Family & Education
Nate Oats was born on October 13, 1974, and was raised in Watertown, Wisconsin. Nate played basketball in high school and college, earning all-conference honors and a degree in Math Education. He later earned a Master’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He stayed in Watertown after high school and played basketball for Maranatha Baptist University, which is part of NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III. Also, Bobby Hurley was impressed by Nate Oats’ coaching while recruiting for Rhode Island in 2013. When Hurley became the head coach at Buffalo, he hired Oats as an assistant on his staff.
Career
Nate became a coach for the team in 1997 and stayed until 2000. He then worked as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater before becoming head coach at Romulus High School in Detroit in 2002.
In 2013, he led the team to a state championship with a record of 27-1, earning him multiple Coaches of the Year awards from the local press. He also won coaching awards in 2005, 2008, and 2009. On April 9, 2015, Nate Oats was named interim head coach at Buffalo after Bobby Hurley left for Arizona State.
The team’s players were interviewed by athletic director Danny White, and all of them recommended Oats to become the permanent head coach. Oats became head coach of Buffalo and led the team to a 3rd place tie in the Mid-American Conference standings.
The University of Buffalo signed a five-year contract with basketball coach Oats in 2016. In his third season, the team won eight straight games and finished the MAC schedule with a record of 15-3, earning Oats the title of MAC Coach of the Year. The Bulls went on to win the 2018 MAC tournament, and Oats extended his contract through 2023.
Alabama
However, Nate joined The University of Alabama in March 2019 and promised his fans an exciting, fast-paced style of play. Keeping his reputation, he delivered on that promise in his second year, leading the Crimson Tide to a standout season in 2020-21.
They finished with a 26-7 record, winning 16 conference games and both the SEC regular season and tournament titles. The team ended the season ranked No. 5 in the nation, matching its best-ever ranking. Oats received a contract extension midway through the season, ensuring he’ll lead the program until March 14, 2027.
Nate Oats Biography |
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|---|---|
| Real Name | Nathanael Justin Oats |
| Birth Date | October 13, 1974 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Watertown, Wisconsin, USA |
| Profession | Basketball Coach |
| College | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 7” – in Centimeters – 170 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 66 kg – in Pounds – 145 lbs |
| Hair Color | Gray |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
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Family |
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| Father | Larry Oats |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Who is his wife? | Crystal Oats |
| Children | Three (Lexie, Jocie & Brielle) |
Nate Oats Wife
Nate Oats is a proud family man with three daughters named Lexie, Jocie, and Brielle. Their lives changed in November 2015 when Nate announced on Facebook that Crystal had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. The news was devastating for both of them as they knew it would be a difficult battle to fight.
Nate continued coaching basketball despite his wife’s chemotherapy treatments, with her encouragement to pursue his passion and not give up on his responsibilities as head coach. Crystal is battling cancer, and everyone wishes her good health. Coach Oats is praised for being supportive during this time.
Nate Oats Net Worth
Nate Oats has a net worth exceeding $10 million due to his successful coaching career and accomplishments in college basketball. In his new six-year contract, Oats starts with a $5 million salary, climbing to $7.55 million by 2030.
Half his pay is base salary, the rest for meeting media and speaking duties. If another university poaches him in the first two years, they owe Alabama $18 million, the highest buyout in the nation.
The buyout drops to $10 million in the third season, then $4 million, and zero in the final two years. Starting March 15, Oats can earn bonuses like $50,000 for SEC titles, $25,000 for academic standards, and up to $500,000 for winning the NCAA Tournament.
