Alabama basketball adds Ryan Pannone to its coaching staff
After losing three assistant coaches in the offseason, Nate Oats has found a replacement for one of those roles, hiring Ryan Pannone on Saturday.
Pannone, a former assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, was previously the inaugural coach of the team's G-League affiliate the Birmingham Squadron when the team relocated in 2021. Pannone is the second assistant coach hire as the Crimson Tide hired former Nicholls State head coach Austin Claunch.
The 38-year-old spent time in China, Germany, Isreal and Slovakia serving as an assistant coach. He won the 2017 Israeli League championship and then two years later won the Israeli State Cup. Pannone began his career at Wallace State (Ala.) Community College in 2011 before becoming an assistant coach for the Foshan Long Lions in China.
Oats is still looking for one more assistant coach as Bryan Hodgson, Charlie Henry and Antoine Pettway all landed head-coaching positions this offseason.
