New Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats is expected to hire Charlie Henry as assistant coach. Henry was serving as head coach for a G-League team (aka NBA D-League), the Windy City Bulls, based in a Chicago suburb. The Bulls made the G-L post-season this season for the first time in their three year existence but lost in the first round.
A Michigan native, Henry got his first coaching job with Oats at Romulus High School for the 2009–2010 season. He then went on to join Fred Hoiberg’s staffs at both Iowa State and the Chicago Bulls. Several Nebraska news outlets prematurely reported that Henry would reunite with Hoiberg at Nebraska.
Henry is set to join Oats’ Buffalo right-hand man Bryan Hodgson and Alabama fan favorite Antoine Pettway on the bench. It is unclear what will become of Yasir Rosemond. He was recruiting with Oats, Hodgson, and Pettway as of a few days ago.
Some thought that former Arkansas head coach and Avery Johnson assistant John Pelphrey might be retained, but it is widely believed that he will be taking the head job at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. The Golden Eagles were a sad 8-23 last season.
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Meanwhile in Nashville, Vanderbilt is set on hiring Jerry Stackhouse. The former NBA star has served as an NBA assistant and two seasons as a G-L head coach but has no college coaching experience. The Commodores signed him to a six year contract.
In Arkansas, Nevada coach Eric Musselman emerged as the leading candidate but nothing has been finalized as of yet. Some media members think the Hogs are waiting to see what happens with Texas Tech coach Chris Beard. Logic dictates that Beard, a Texas graduate, would return to his alma mater upon the conclusion of the Final Four. Then reports surfaced Friday that the Longhorn are giving Shaka Smart (71–66) another season in Austin after winning the NIT.
Kelvin Sampson has agreed to a contract extension with Houston through 2025.
APRIL 16 UPDATE: Southfield Christian (Michigan) Head Coach Josh Baker has accepted a position to join the Alabama basketball staff as a special assistant to Oats. Baker was on Oats’ staff at Romulus HS and went on to have an incredible impact on the Southfield Christian basketball program since taking over the reigns in 2011. In his eight seasons the team has gone 181-30, with a 97-1 conference record. The Eagles currently hold an 82 game winning streak in conference play dating back to January 2013. In the MHSAA postseason Baker’s teams have won 8 district titles, 6 regional titles, and have won 5 state titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019).