Report: Alabama "in discussions" with New Orleans Pelicans assistant Ryan Pannone

Nate Oats is going through something unusual. All three of his assistant coaches have left the Alabama program for other head coaching roles. A total overhaul is underway by Oats as he looks to keep the same kind of quality in Tuscaloosa.

Now, he might be pulling in from the NBA. According to Nick Kelly of the Tuscaloosa News, Alabama is “in discussions” with Ryan Pannone for an open assistant role. Pannone is currently with the New Orleans Pelicans, who were eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday night.

“Alabama basketball in discussions with New Orleans Pelicans assistant Ryan Pannone for one of Tide’s assistant coach openings, source tells @tuscaloosanews,” Kelly said.

The Pelicans and Alabama do have a recent history together through the NBA Draft. Program legend Herb Jones has made a name for himself while Kira Lewis was a first-round pick in 2020. John Petty is in the organization as well, playing for the G-League affiliation, the Birmingham Squadron.

Oats and athletic director Greg Byrne were in New Orleans on Thursday, supposedly to support their former players. While that remains true, conversations with Pannone likely took place as well. A flight from Tuscaloosa to New Orleans doesn’t take too long, either.

Alabama, Ryan Pannone speaking with one another

Pannone has been a long-time assistant in basketball at various different levels. The 2021-2022 campaign was his first in the NBA, working alongside head coach Willie Greene. New Orleans finished two games over .500 and ninth in the Western Conference but bowed out to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the play-in game.

The state of Alabama is actually somewhat familiar to Pannone, getting his coaching career underway. He served as an assistant at Wallace State CC, which is located in Hanceville, Ala — about two hours northeast of Tuscaloosa.

Pannone worked in what’s now known as the G-League with the Memphis Grizzlies organization. He even went across the Atlantic Ocean to work in Israel. Hapoel Jerusalem won the Israeli championship and made it to the Euro Cup semifinals.

If Alabama does go through in hiring Pannone, he will be joining a program looking to continue its positive momentum. Two SEC championships made their way back to Coleman Coliseum this past season plus a second weekend at the NCAA Tournament.

Finding a way to push into the Final Four will be the ultimate goal and grabbing somebody from the NBA ranks would fit the kind of system Oats is running.