Nate Oats quiets rumors of potential departure and signs extension

Alabama Basketball is preparing to win its second straight SEC Tournament championship and it will do it with no outside noise. Despite rumors of a potential return to the North, Nate Oats is officially here to stay according to Greg Bryne as Oats has signed a contract extension.

The Alabama Basketball team is on its way to its fourth NCAA Tournament in five years with Oats at the helm, and the program has a 113-52 record with Oats. If you take out Oats' first season at Alabama, the program is 97-37 with a 54-18 record in the SEC, making the tournament in all four seasons.

The Alabama Basketball team has reached new heights under Oats with two SEC Tournament Championships and two SEC regular season championships, including the 2021 season which saw Oats win the SEC Coach of the Year award.

The Crimson Tide is looking to make it's furthest run in the tournament under Oats to date. Alabama has reached the Sweet Sixteen twice, but has failed to break through to the tournament's later rounds.

This contract extension will do wonders for the Alabama Basketball program, eliminating any possibility of Oats leaving as the team prepares for the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide currently holds the nation's sixth-ranked recruiting class with two five-star commits and a four-star commit.

The Alabama Basketball program will always take a back seat to the football program in terms of popularity, however, it's a testament to the job that Oats has done to bring Alabama Basketball into the conversation.

Is Oats the SEC's Best?

At this point in his career, Nate Oats is in the conversation as the best coach in the conference despite being in the SEC for just five seasons. Oats has won two SEC regular season and post-season titles in those five years, with a chance to win this year's tournament as well.

The Tide has also begun recruiting at the level of traditional basketball powers and is pushing itself towards "New Blood" status nationally.