What Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats said about new assistant Ryan Pannone
Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats' hire of new assistant Ryan Pannone became official Wednesday. Pannone, who came from an assistant coaching role with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, joins Austin Claunch as two of Oats' new assistants.
The Tuscaloosa News reported Oats' hires of Pannone and Claunch in April, and Claunch's hire was announced a few days later. Oats noted Pannone's ability as both a recruiter and teacher of the game in announcing the hire.
"Over my last four years at Alabama, I have gotten to know Ryan through his work with the Pelicans organization. He is one of the brightest minds in the game of basketball and a relentless worker,” Oats said in a release. “Ryan brings a wealth of Xs and Os experience to Tuscaloosa from his time coaching in the NBA, G League, and overseas. He is recognized as a top recruiter and a leader in player development, both crucial to the long and short-term success of our program. We are excited Ryan is on board working with our student athletes. Not only is he a fantastic coach, but he is an even better person and a proven mentor of young men. I am sure Ryan and his family will become a valued part of the Tuscaloosa community.”
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Prior to coaching on the Pelicans bench, Pannone coached the club's G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, and has coached internationally as well.
“I am extremely honored to join The University of Alabama and Coach Oats’ staff,” Pannone said. “The chance to join a legendary school with a basketball program that is among the best in the country is a privilege. Coach Oats leads a team that competes with NBA-style ball and runs NBA sets, so to have the opportunity to leverage my NBA experience to mentor and raise up student athletes was a rare and rewarding offer I couldn’t pass up.”
All three of Alabama's assistant coaches from last year departed following the team's Sweet 16 exit from the NCAA Tournament. The new assistants will also have a largely new team to assemble, as several key players from last year - most notably Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako - have turned pro.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23 and the Talkin' Tide podcast. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Alabama coach Nate Oats said about new assistant Ryan Pannone
