Nate Oats “Thought About” Kentucky Job

Fresh off the heels of the first Final Four in Crimson Tide history, Alabama fans were met with panic when it was announced John Calipari was leaving the Kentucky Wildcats for the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Kentucky basketball job is one of the most prestigious jobs in college basketball, and Nate Oats has been one of the best coaches in college basketball since arriving in Tuscaloosa.

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On Wednesday, Oats had an interview with Seth Davis of Bleacher Report, where he explained his thought process about the Kentucky job.

"The job was never offered in the first place. I don't want people to think I turned it down, that wasn't the case. I took my name out of consideration before it ever got to that point," Oats told Davis.

Just before UConn and Purdue tipped off in the national championship on April 8, Oats and Alabama's Athletic Director, Greg Byrne, released a joint statement announcing Oats would remain in Tuscaloosa and not pursue the Kentucky job.

Oats did mention to Davis, however, that there was some consideration to making the move within the SEC.

"To be even in the conversation -- I mean, the job was never offered to me. It's not -- it didn't get to that point at all," Oats said. "But there was a lot of speculation circulating around the country for a day -- or part of a day there -- that maybe I'd be in the mix. I actually thought about it."

Why did Oats not pursue one of the best jobs in the country? Factors beyond basketball played a part in Oats's decision.

"I've got three daughters. They all like it here in Tuscaloosa," he told Bleacher Report. "My oldest, Lexi, is going into her junior year here [at Alabama]. I haven't had to move a ton in my profession, in college. A lot of these guys are moving every couple of years. I'm fortunate I didn't have to do that. I went to Buffalo with Bobby Hurley. I trusted the Hurley family. They're basketball royalty. I didn't want to move my family and then have to keep moving. We were fortunate we won big and in Year 2 we went to the first NCAA tournament in Buffalo history. I got the head job. So I was there six years. I've been here five. I didn't really want to move my family."

Oats signed a contract extension in March that raised his buyout to $18 million, the highest in college basketball at the time, until March 2026. Oats is also set to make $5 million in 2025-26.

It wasn't just Oats's family that kept him in Tuscaloosa.

"I also felt we just made a Final Four. Greg Byrne is one of the best ADs in the country. I'd love to work with him the rest of my career, to be honest with you," Oats said. "And he took care of me. I'm not the highest-paid coach in the league. I didn't ask for that. But I'm making a lot more money than I'd ever thought I'd make. And they've made it clear they want to keep me here."

"I think we've got a chance to win a national championship at Alabama, and I think it would mean a lot more winning one here than maybe it would be winning one somewhere where they've won with lots of different coaches over a period of time. It's almost expected at a place like Kentucky. If you don't make the Final Four, they're gonna -- you had a disappointing year, to be honest with you. John Calipari is a pretty good coach. He's won a lot of games. He's won everywhere he's been, and they weren't happy. I mean, he won a national championship. But you expect a Final Four -- which I don't mind. I wouldn't mind having that pressure, to be honest with you. I just think there's part of me that would actually enjoy that to a point because I put a lot of pressure on myself, anyways.

"But I really would like to win one here and I think we've got a roster put together that can. But in a win-or-go-home, one-game elimination tournament like the NCAA, the best team doesn't always win. Now sometimes they do. UConn, they were the best team in college basketball last year and they won it. We'd like to try to be the best team and win it, if things don't shake out well, I'd still like to give myself a chance. We've built this thing up to where we've got a chance to win it. I'd like to give myself a chance to win it here. I like working with the people I have here. I was comfortable here. My family is comfortable here. I decided I want to stay here."

The landscape of college athletics has changed as well, with NIL becoming more of a factor than ever. That was part of the reason Oats stayed as well.

"For one, we had a lot of donors stepping up at the time, which was big, and I didn't want them thinking I was playing," Oats said. "Like, no. They were serious about us winning. I wanted to let them know I was serious. We had recruiting going on. The quicker you squash some of that stuff, the better off it is for you in the place you're at, and I thought that was the smart move."

Alabama basketball will begin its hunt for another Final Four with one of the top rosters in the country. Oats and the Tide will return to action in Coleman Coliseum on Nov. 4 against UNC Ashville. You can view the full Alabama Men's Basketball non-conference schedule here.

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