Buffalo head coach Nate Oats will be the next head coach at Alabama, Alabama AD Greg Byrne announced on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
Thrilled to welcome @nate_oats to @AlabamaMBB! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/vo8YRUXPg3
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) March 27, 2019
The news comes a mere 13 days after Oats and Buffalo signed a four-year extension that would pay him $837,000 per year, plus $225,000 of extra funding for the basketball program. Once former Alabama head coach Avery Johnson and requested a buyout, the program and Johnson mutually agreed to part ways, officially opening up the Crimson Tide job on March 24.
Oats amassed a 93-43 record during his four-year tenure at Buffalo, in which he led the Bulls to three NCAA Tournament appearances in four seasons. Under his direction this season, Buffalo boasted five all-conference selections, including the MAC Player of the Year in CJ Massinburg.
Oats, a two-time MAC Coach of the Year recipient, led the Bulls to a 32-4 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance this season. The Bulls bowed out of the Big Dance with a 20-point loss to Texas Tech in the Round of 32 after shellacking 11-seed Arizona State in the first round.