Image Credit: UsWeeklyAlabama men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats and his wife, Crystal Oats, have navigated both moments of triumph and immense personal challenges throughout their nearly 30-year marriage.
Nate and Crystal, who tied the knot in 1997, have three daughters—Lexie, Jocie, and Brielle. While Oats built his coaching career, Crystal faced a life-threatening battle when she was diagnosed with double-hit lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer, in October 2015. Reflecting on that time, Nate acknowledged in a 2020 video by the University of Alabama that the diagnosis was overwhelming, especially considering their three young daughters.
Crystal recalled to ESPN that upon hearing the news, she immediately thought of the worst, having lost a close friend to lymphoma a decade earlier. She shared that breaking the news to her children was one of the most difficult moments. Despite the uncertainty, the family remained resilient, with Nate publicly expressing his support for his wife through social media updates.
In April 2016, Crystal underwent a successful stem cell transplant, and by August of that year, Nate announced that her tests had come back cancer-free. He noted that she would undergo regular check-ups for the next two years.
Beyond their personal struggles, the Oats family has celebrated many milestones, including Lexie’s college enrollment at the University of Alabama and Jocie recently earning her driver’s permit.
Through adversity and triumph, the Oats family has remained strong, embodying resilience both on and off the basketball court.
(Information credits: ESPN, University of Alabama, social media posts)
