Alabama’s Nate Oats shuts down Michigan speculation in statement

Even coaches that recently took a new job will be subject to some speculation when a position like Michigan’s opens up, but Nate Oats won’t be heading to Ann Arbor.

Oats, who was only hired by Alabama in March, shot down all speculation linking him to the newly-vacant Michigan job, saying he was focused on the Crimson Tide while campaigning for his former assistant and current Michigan assistant Saddi Washington to be considered.

From Nate Oats: “We love it at Alabama. Completely focused on our job there and getting our family moved down there. I hope my former assistant at Romulus, Saddi Washington, who’s been with Beilein the longest at Michigan gets a shot at the job.
Roll Tide”

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) May 13, 2019

John Beilein’s departure for the NBA probably comes a bit later than Michigan would have liked it to in a perfect world. Two months ago, Oats would have likely been a candidate, but the coaching carousel already completed its first go-around and the Wolverines will have to look elsewhere.