Maryland Basketball: 7 candidates to replace Mark Turgeon as head coach

Nate Oats

Sometimes these searches come down to the right fit for a program and sometimes it comes down to how they click in a certain environment, either as a recruiter or coaching through those X’s and O’s. In early December, we don’t know who is going to be Maryland’s head coach, but on first glance, this is another one of those splash hires that seems pretty attractive for the position.

Nate Oats grew up in Wisconsin and got much of his start as a high school coach in Detroit. He got his start at Buffalo and then succeeded Bobby Hurley as head coach in 2015. Oats led Buffalo to three NCAA Tournaments in four seasons, including a pair of first-round wins. He took the job at Alabama and has turned things around quickly for the Crimson Tide, leading them to a Sweet Sixteen and an SEC title last season.

Based on what he’s done in just six years as a D1 head coach, Oats would be a home run hire for any major program making a hire. The question becomes Oats’ willingness to leave Alabama after only three seasons, especially when his Crimson Tide looks to be in fine shape against this year. Oats may be willing to make the move is the price is right and to escape the shadow of Alabama football, but this is the kind of hire that Maryland would really have to unload the bank. Based on immediate returns at both Buffalo and Alabama, it could be worth it in the long term.