Alabama MBB Head Coach Nate Oats Addresses Recent UNC Head Coach Opening

CHICAGO, Ill. - One of the premier jobs in college basketball is currently vacant after the UNC Tar Heels fired head coach Hubert Davis after the Tar Heels' early exit in the NCAA tournament last weekend, falling to the VCU Rams in the Round of 64, 82-78. The Tar Heels led by 19 early in the second half before falling to the Rams.

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Last time one of the best jobs in college basketball came open (Kentucky in April 2024), Oats' name was heavily linked to the opening. According to On3's initial big board for UNC's vacancy, Oats is a name to keep an eye on for the Tar Heels.

On Thursday, ahead of the Crimson Tide's matchup in the Sweet 16 with the Michigan Wolverines, Oats was asked about the opening in Chapel Hill.

"If you’ve gotten to know me. I’m not a guy that’s trying to always jump around. The grass isn’t always greener. I love Alabama," Oats said. "My girls love Alabama. Greg Byrne is the best AD in the country. I’d love to work with him the rest of my career. They’re doing everything they can to make sure we have a competitive program.

"I'd love to be the coach to bring us our first national championship. We have a Final Four, so three years later, I have absolutely no reason to leave here...While it's flattering that high school guy that caught a couple breaks, you mentioned some of these jobs because they've got quite a tradition. I'm not a guy that's looking to get out of here anytime soon."

Oats' buyout currently sits at $18 million, one of the highest in college basketball. It drops to $10 million on April 1, 2026 (next Wednesday), and drops again to $4 million on April 1, 2027. Oats addressed his contract with the University of Alabama on Thursday.

"When my salary goes up a half-million dollars every year, do you know how long it would take me to make a half-million dollars at Romulus [High School]? I’m not asking them to redo the contract every year.

“We’ve had some discussions. It’s probably close; we’ll see where it takes us. I’m not looking to leave. They don’t need to be in a rush to re-do a good contract.”

Alabama will face Michigan in the Sweet 16 in the Midwest Region on Friday, March 27, at 6:35 p.m. CT.

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Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.