Nate Oats has built Alabama basketball into a powerhouse, taking the program closer to the sport's pinnacle than it has ever been in its long history. He amassed a superb 145-63 record in his firsts six seasons in Tuscaloosa and guided the Crimson Tide to their first-ever Final Four appearance in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He is an innovator, but long before Oats galvanized the community, C.M. Newton pushed Alabama hoops forward, both competitively and culturally.

The six-time SEC Coach of the Year, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 88, broke racial barriers and helped make the Crimson Tide relevant. He is the first Alabama head coach to welcome in a black basketball player — Wendell Hudson earned SEC Player of the Year honors during the 1972-73 season. The Tide honor Newton for al

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