Nate Oats, Alabama Hire Veteran NBA Coach Chris Fleming as Assistant
Alabama men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats added a major piece to his coaching staff Wednesday, naming Chris Fleming as the Crimson Tide’s newest assistant coach.
Fleming brings a wealth of NBA experience to Tuscaloosa. The 55-year-old most recently served as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers and has also held similar roles with the Denver Nuggets (2015–16), Brooklyn Nets (2016–19), and Chicago Bulls (2019–24).
He joins fellow assistants Preston Murphy and Brian Adams on the 2025–26 staff. Murphy is known for his recruiting prowess and handles on-court coaching, player development, and opponent scouting. Adams, who joined last season, oversees the defensive unit and brings over a decade of NBA defensive coaching experience.
Fleming replaces Ryan Pannone, who spent the last two seasons with Alabama before accepting the head coaching position at Arkansas State in March. Pannone became the fifth assistant under Oats to land a head coaching job, following Bryan Hodgson (South Florida), Antoine Pettway (Kennesaw State), Austin Claunch (UTSA), and Charlie Henry (Georgia Southern).
Under Pannone’s offensive leadership, Alabama led the nation in points per game for two straight seasons and ranked No. 1 in possessions per game in 2024–25, earning a reputation as the fastest-paced program in college basketball. His impact helped propel Alabama to historic heights: a first-ever Final Four in 2023–24 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2024–25. Alabama is the only program to make the Elite Eight in each of the past two seasons.
Now, it’s Fleming’s turn to build on that momentum—with a retooled roster. Only four players from last season’s squad are returning: guards Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Houston Mallette (both coming off season-ending injuries), forward Aiden Sherrell, and guard Aden Holloway, who averaged 11.4 points per game and was a key contributor off the bench.
Fleming will also work with four transfer portal additions and three incoming freshmen. With his NBA pedigree and experience working with elite talent, expectations will be high. The big question: can Fleming not only maintain Alabama’s offensive firepower but elevate it even further?
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