Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats is getting flak for his recent statement on his junior, Aden Holloway’s drug arrest. On Monday, March 16, Holloway was arrested by agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force after a property near the team’s campus was found to contain cash, over a pound of marijuana, and paraphernalia that apparently belonged to Holloway.
Oats reacted to this on the most recent episode of his “Hey Coach” show on the Crimson Tide Sports Network YouTube channel. Oats admitted to being disappointed in Holloway, given the standards he and his coaching staff set for their players. However, Oats said he still has love for his player.
College basketball fans online started attacking Oats for his statement.
“Translation: even with judges in our pocket, we can’t get him out of this,” one fan claimed.
“Notice the language in this, ‘We try to keep everything in house,’ and, ‘We had to suspend him.’ Jamea Harris’ family should sue the school and Oats for running a lawless basketball program,” another user explained.
“Lol Nate wanted a felony arrest kept in-house so he could play,” another fan pointed out.
“‘We try to keep everything in-house.’ Uh, Nate, that’s called a cover-up,” a user posted.
Other X users decided to lend support to coach Oats.
“Nate Oats seems to have a good soul. He’ll get to the right answer. This can’t be easy for Aden Holloway, for Oats, and his teammates. Teams DO handle lots of things ‘internally’, and it’s naive to think this was Aden’s first rodeo. Let’s be patient, it’s gonna take time,” one fan said.
“What a great leader. Let it play out in the courts. Innocent until proven guilty,” another fan shared.
“Oats has nothing to do with this. He was charged with a felony. This is a university administration matter,” a fan wrote.
Holloway, 21, was in the midst of his third year of collegiate hoops, second under the tutelage of coach Oats and the Alabama-based program. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native played his first season with the Auburn Tigers before transferring to the Crimson Tide. It is more than likely now, though, that Holloway has suited up for Alabama for the last time, given his arrest.
The Alabama Crimson Tide Will Open Their 2026 NCAA Tournament Run In Three Days
Coach Nate Oats and his Alabama Crimson Tide will open their national tournament run on Friday, March 20.
Coach Oats and his team are set to face Coach Speedy Claxton’s Hofstra Pride in the first round of the Midwest Region of the 2026 March Madness in neutral territory, the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
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Also Read: Alabama HC Nate Oats Drops Cryptic Comment on Potentially Taking a Job in the NBA: ‘Would Have To Win an Awful Lot’
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