News Article: Alabama Hires Nate Oats From Buffalo

[JustNeedMe81]

I have waited until this morning to say anything about the hire yesterday afternoon. As of now, I am still not impressed with the hire and I hope I am wrong.

Why are you not impressed with the hire? Have you seen the YouTube clips of his coaching? Have you done your homework on him and how he coach?

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[BAMARICH]

Again, just because he was at the top of the list doesn’t automatically translate into success.

How do you honestly think this guy will do going against at least 4 very good coaches in the sec and with no better facilities than what we’ve had? Just on facilities alone I think he’s handicapped going out of the gate, I don’t care how good of an actual coach that he is. And yes I know Coleman is going to be “upgraded”.....

As I've pointed out consistently through this search, the assumption is that we can get someone "better" under the current conditions. Based on what you said about facilities means certain guys are not going to be willing to even look our way. As far as "how will he do"... if his guys will play hard and develop in the fundamentals of the game throughout the year, I'll be happy because you'll win your share with that formula.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

As for the folks talking about our lack of tournament appearances by C.M. Newton ... Do a little research and see what we were and what we became under his watch. If you like, we can also discuss how he remains a figure of historical significance not only in this state but across the entirety of Southern basketball.

 

[Padreruf]

I have waited until this am and I love this hire:

1. Unconnected to our program -- not in debt to anyone around all the losing we have had.
2. Energy and enthusiasm -- MG, AG and AJ were not "high energy" coaches and we need a culture change in a big way. Need an alpha male personality.
3. Has won at the D-I level -- and won big. He has coached his way to the top of our list.
4. Seems to be an excellent bench coach. MG was the worst...not sure about AG...AJ was not good from what I could see. If you can't make changes in the middle of a game then you better have Roy Williams type talent. (Not great at this either.)

I agree with others...if they don't want to be here then let them go and start over. He's not here because we were laden with talent or achieved great success. We may not be at the bottom...but you don't have to look far to see it.

 

[JTBama]

Why are you not impressed with the hire? Have you seen the YouTube clips of his coaching? Have you done your homework on him and how he coach?

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I have to agree with you...the attitude, excitement and work ethic he's demonstrated ....is what this program needs right now in my opinion.

 

[Padreruf]

As for the folks talking about our lack of tournament appearances by C.M. Newton ... Do a little research and see what we were and what we became under his watch. If you like, we can also discuss how he remains a figure of historical significance not only in this state but across the entirety of Southern basketball.

He singled handedly turned around UA basketball...a legend in my understanding.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I've thought about it overnight and I've come to this conclusion. And I think anybody with a negative outlook about this hire ought to think about these points, even if they are my opinions that I cannot prove as facts.

I do not believe Buffalo had as much talent as Alabama did this past season. Or any season over the last 4 or 5 years, the time frame that Oats has been the HC at Buffalo. I think they would have beaten us soundly this season, and most likely would have beaten us any of the past 4 seasons, including last year with Colin Sexton on our team.

Alabama wasn't Duke this season or any season under Avery, but we had enough talent to be a 22-25 win team this season. We should have been a 25 win team last season. If Oats can win 34 games at Buffalo, he can win 24 at Alabama with ease. What I am saying is that we have seriously underachieved for 25 years now, excepting a couple of positive blips under Gottfried. No, we are not on the level of Kentucky. Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, and a couple others are outpacing us right now in the SEC. But talent-wise, we are not so far behind any of those teams. Certainly, we do not lack the potential as a program to catch up. This guy, Oats, has the tools to get us there I am certain. And I have absolutely no doubt that he is an improvement over anything we've had on the sideline since Wimp.

It's going to take some time because he's going to have to rebuild the culture around the program. Remember, we went 7-6 Nick Saban's first season and lost to La Monroe. I don't expect a Cinderella run next year. But I expect you'll see a team that fights hard for 40 minutes by next February.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I hope so, but it's a different caliber of talent that you need to recruit to win night in and night out in the SEC. His recruiting classes have never been ranked in the top 75, and he only has 2 4-star players he's ever signed.
He may be a great evaluator of talent, but winning with 2 and 3 star talent will be tough sledding. We'll see if he can do it at a higher level now that he has more resources. I'm not saying he can't, but it is the big unknown.

What's interesting is, CAJ had never proven he could recruit or develop talent, and his proven ability to develop a gameplan was questionable, but somehow that was seen as a better hire than this? At least we've seen proof that Oats can develop players, develop gameplans that win on the highest level, and coach on the court. Let's see if he can get the right players in to implement the system he wants to run though.

Geez! He was recruiting for Buffalo. Think about it. What does Buffalo offer that would attract an eighteen year old kid?

Bama will be a much easier sell than Buffalo.

Let's see what the guy can do before casting stones, shall we?

Yes, you are correct that he seems to be a great developer of players and that coupled with a better recruiting base is going to be exciting to watch!

Roll Tide!

 

[CB4]

I got a text last night from a long time friend that grew up and lives in Buffalo. Actually is a Kentucky grad so you know the guy lives and breathes basketball. His comments:

"Congrats. You've got a great coach coming. What's most impressive about Oats is that he is "his own guy". He says what he means and he means what he says. Players love him because they know where they stand. He'll kick them in the fanny one minute and hug their neck the next. If you're playing, you know why your playing. If you're sitting on the bench, you know why your sitting on the bench and how you get off of it and back on the court. If he does what I think he can do, you may have trouble holding on to him."

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I will hold my opinion of this hire until I see the results on the court.

 

[AlexanderFan]

I got a text last night from a long time friend that grew up and lives in Buffalo. Actually is a Kentucky grad so you know the guy lives and breathes basketball. His comments:

"Congrats. You've got a great coach coming. What's most impressive about Oats is that he is "his own guy". He says what he means and he means what he says. Players love him because they know where they stand. He'll kick them in the fanny one minute and hug their neck the next. If you're playing, you know why your playing. If you're sitting on the bench, you know why your sitting on the bench and how you get off of it and back on the court. If he does what I think he can do, you may have trouble holding on to him."

The last part is what concerns me. I hope we are able to hold on to him should he skyrocket. I want him to take Alabama to new heights, not use Alabama to launch to new heights.


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[CB4]

As for the folks talking about our lack of tournament appearances by C.M. Newton ... Do a little research and see what we were and what we became under his watch. If you like, we can also discuss how he remains a figure of historical significance not only in this state but across the entirety of Southern basketball.

Amen. C.M. came to Alabama when the best African American players in this state would not darken the door of the university. It was CM (and Wimp) that convinced Wendell Hudson, Charles Cleveland, Boonie Russell, Leon Douglas, T.R. Dunn among others that they could be the agents of change at Alabama. C.M.'s 1975-76 team is the team that came the closest to giving us a national title ever. We played Bobby Knight's eventual national champion (and undefeated) Indiana team "off their feet" only to lose in the last minute (IIRC by four points). That Indiana team was led by consensus All-Americans in Quin Buckner, Scott May, and Kent Benson. Bobby Knight even stated that Alabama team was the best team they had played all year.

(I'll always contend that Kent Benson's put back bucket that gave Indiana the lead with under two minutes left was offense goal tending - his hands and the ball were in the cylinder but I digress.....)

C.M. Newton WAS the foundation of Alabama basketball. Plus he was one of the classiest, most well liked and respected coaches not only across the south but across the nation as well.

If Oats turns out to be C.M. Newton 2.0, then I'm not only happy. I'm elated.

 

[Ldlane]

Actually when CM came to Alabama the tournament field was 24. It didn’t expand to 32 until 1975. You basically had to be a conference champion to get in. Several of those NIT teams (and many of those in NIT fields) would be shoo-ins today to the NCAA Tournament. Those Newton teams not only would been in the tournament, they would have been seeded in 3-6 range at worst.
Comparing tournament achievements by C.M.’s teams to tournament bids today is like comparing apples to tires.

Coach Bryant was also the one who hired Coach Newton. So, another great coaching decision!

 

[mdb-tpet]

As one poster alluded to earlier:

Would you hire this mid-major coach?

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Mid major (NCAA Division I independent) (1975–1980)
1975–76 11–14
1976–77 20–8
1977–78 19–9 NIT First Round
1978–79 14–11
1979–80 9–17
Total: 73–59 (.553)

Would you keep this coach?

(Atlantic Coast Conference) (1980–present)
1980–81 17–13 6–8 T–5th NIT Quarterfinal
1981–82 10–17 4–10 T–6th
1982–83 11–17 3–11 7th --Look at those losses!


If you say you would not keep this coach, then you missed one of the greatest and you don't know basketball.

1983–84 24–10 7–7 T–3rd NCAA Division I Round of 32
1984–85 23–8 8–6 T–4th NCAA Division I Round of 32
1985–86 37–3 12–2 1st NCAA Division I Runner-up
1986–87 24–9 9–5 3rd NCAA Division I Sweet 16
1987–88 28–7 9–5 3rd NCAA Division I Final Four
1988–89 28–8 9–5 T–2nd NCAA Division I Final Four
1989–90 29–9 9–5 2nd NCAA Division I Runner-up

etc.

I think we go with a hard working coach, give him the resources, and let him coach and evolve. 4 years is just too short of a timeframe to really build a program.

So many people forget Nick Saban had a mediocre record until his time at LSU.

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Toledo Rockets (Mid-American Conference) (1990)
1990 Toledo 9–2 7–1 T–1st
Toledo: 9–2 7–1
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (1995–1999)
1995 Michigan State 6–5–1 4–3–1 5th L Independence
1996 Michigan State 6–6 5–3 5th L Sun
1997 Michigan State 7–5 4–4 6th L Aloha
1998 Michigan State 6–6 4–4 6th

--Would you have hired/fired Nick Saban after this record?

I'll let those that know basketball Xs and Os call this one, and they seem to be impressed. Plus remember Coach Oats has the most wins EVER by a MAC team. That's not a small task... at Buffalo.

 

[TideEngineer08]

The last part is what concerns me. I hope we are able to hold on to him should he skyrocket. I want him to take Alabama to new heights, not use Alabama to launch to new heights.


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We'll cross that bridge if we get to it. But plenty of "not elite" programs have been able to hold onto coaches when the elites come calling. Hopefully he falls in love with Tuscaloosa and Alabama and makes us "elite."

 

[CB4]

We'll cross that bridge if we get to it. But plenty of "not elite" programs have been able to hold onto coaches when the elites come calling. Hopefully he falls in love with Tuscaloosa and Alabama and makes us "elite."

It would be nice for the first time in forever for the fan base to worry about someone "poaching" our basketball coach because of the progress and success the program has had. It would be a good problem to have.

 

[GrayTide]

My conclusion on Byrne's hiring Nate Oats so quickly, in the words of Lee Corso, "he knows something we don't know so I am going with him".

 

[NationalTitles18]

The last part is what concerns me. I hope we are able to hold on to him should he skyrocket. I want him to take Alabama to new heights, not use Alabama to launch to new heights.


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Meh. We can't be scared to lose someone to another opportunity. Even had CNS left after his first NC our program would have been better from the work he did during that time.

 

[cuda.1973]

Talked to my 'Zona buddy, late last night. He was unaware of what had transpired.

"Wow, you guys got a really good coach. I was hoping he would be the guy we get, if Miller gets fired. He'll get kids from the East, who know how to play basketball and are tough. The problem with today's basketball is too many shooters just standing around, throwing up shots. Those East Coast kids play the right kind of basketball, and are lot tougher. Look at the PAC 12. The refs call ticky-tack fouls, and everyone plays soft. That is why we get blown out by teams from the East so many times. He'll be good for you. You may have trouble holding on to him."

He also talked about being able to recruit good players, who are not in the "one and done" mold. Players that can stay long enough to be able to create a real "team", and not a collection of "5- and 4-star shooters".

(You could probably summarize his assessment of today's college BB as being ruined a.) the one and done types, b.) too many shooters, without enough real players, and of course, c.) the refs!)

 

[rgw]

Alabama could hold onto a great coach if we could ever get one. Short of a man's dream job or the NBA, I'm not worried about our ability to keep a winner happy in Tuscaloosa.