Kalen DeBoer, offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic and the rest of the Alabama coaching staff have seemingly knocked it out of the park for another first-time visitor.
Five-star Andrew Babalola, the No. 3 offensive tackle in the country, was in Tuscaloosa over the weekend. The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder had a previous relationship with DeBoer, general manager Courtney Morgan and, now, Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Scott Huff from his Washington recruitment. DeBoer and Huff met with Babalola during the open contact period.
“Like a day after it was announced coach DeBoer was taking the job, Courtney Morgan immediately hit me up and told me I was a priority and they are coming to get me,” Babalola told Bama247 at the time. “So them, with everything going on and them coming to see me, it means a lot.”
Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats reaffirmed his commitment to the program in a statement released Monday evening, less than 24 hours after reports surfaced that Kentucky coach John Calipari would leave Lexington for Arkansas.
“Bama Nation, I am fully committed to this team and to this university,” read Oats’ statement on X. “We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for The University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball.
“Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach. Roll Tide!
Minutes after Oats’ statement, Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne released a separate statement encouraging fans to support the Tide’s NIL efforts to pay players through its collective, Yea Alabama.
“We’re committed to supporting Nate Oats as he continues to lead Alabama men’s basketball in its pursuit of a national championship and encourage our fans to be a part of that by supporting Yea Alabama,” Byrne wrote. “I know I’ve said this before but want to reiterate how important this is with the changing landscape in college athletics. Nate and I talk regularly about the priorities of the program and NIL is at the forefront, as is a day-to-day development space for our team, which we are taking steps to address as we speak.
We appreciate your support through Yea Alabama and look forward to celebrating more championships in the years to come. Roll Tide!”
Oats signed a contract extension last month that raised his buyout to $18 million until March 2026, which Byrne believed was the highest in college basketball at the time. His new deal pays Oats $5 million this upcoming season.
“I appreciate their support in keeping me here,” Oats said March 15. “Take my name out of some of the other job openings that are there.”
Weeks after Oats signed his extension, Alabama advanced to its second-ever Elite Eight and first-ever Final Four. His success in the NCAA tournament fueled speculation he could be a possible candidate to fill the Kentucky job, which had long been considered the SEC’s top coaching position in men’s basketball. Calipari leaving on his own for Arkansas, and not being fired, reduced the financial obstacle Kentucky would have faced in pursuing Oats.
