Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Maryland won't have a shot at hiring Alabama HC Nate Oats

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Mar 31, 2025 6:28 PM ET

The Maryland Terrapins are looking for a new head coach after Kevin Willard left them for the head-coaching position at Villanova.

The Terps are undoubtedly a college basketball "blue blood" so they should have no problem finding a replacement for Willard. One of the more interesting names that have been brought up in relation to their opening isn't interested himself, though, and that's Alabama head coach Nate Oats.

It would make sense on paper. Oats is a top-tier college basketball coach and he's built the Crimson Tide into a yearly March Madness contender. Alabama is, and may always be, a football school though thanks to the success Nick Saban had on the gridiron, so going someplace where basketball is more the focus could be an interesting move for a coach like Oats.

Unfortunately for the Terps, there is no interest on Oats' side, according to college hoops reporter Jeff Goodman.

Alabama head coach Nate Oats has no interest in the vacant Maryland job, source told @thefieldof68.

There’s been some recent chatter about Oats and the Terps job.

No truth to it.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 31, 2025

Oats is fresh off taking Alabama to the Elite Eight and last season he took the Crimson Tide to the Final Four. He's clearly been successful in Tuscaloosa and perhaps he feels he can turn Alabama into a basketball school now that Saban is gone.

Football head coach Kalen DeBoer may have something to say about that, and who knows, another opportunity could pop open in the next year or so that will draw Oats away.

For now, though, Maryland does not appear to be that opportunity.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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