Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats has had an eventful 2026. Oats made the controversial decision to add Charles Bediako to the Crimson Tide’s active roster despite Bediako previously participating in the NBA G League.
Bediako was ultimately ruled ineligible, a decision Oats felt cost his team in its NCAA tournament loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
“So we know we got to get bigger… Some of it was some injuries and stuff that happened, you know, when we saw the opportunity, you know, to bring some size on after all the adversity we went through, you know, after (Baylor Bears center James Nnaji) was declared eligible and most people, including ourselves, thought, you know, if they’re going to declare Nnaji eligible, that (Charles Bediako) would be eligible,” Oats said after the loss.
Oats personal appears to be just as eventful.
“Me and Alex— my fiancée now, she was my girlfriend at the time — we were at a Knicks playoff game, and I’m sitting there at [Madison Square] Garden,” Oats said on Sirius Radio while recounting a prior experience, according to Alabama reporter Robert Littal. “I’m like, ‘Hold on.’ I’m a high school coach and I got an opportunity to coach in here and I’m gonna say no?”
According to Heavy, Crystal, Oats’ ex-wife, was diagnosed with cancer in October 2015. Crystal went on to win her battle, achieving remission in August 2016.
Alex Accetta, Oats current fiancée was previously the director of basketball operations for the Crimson Tide, overseeing logistics including team travel, scheduling, budgeting, and program events.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Tide and Oats finish next season.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.