New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach Ryan Pannone is in advanced negotiations to join Nate Oats’ staff at the University of Alabama.
Pannone, 38, was the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans’ G League affiliate team for three years before being promoted to assistant coach with the Pelicans in September.
Pannone is a Clearwater, Florida, native, who got his start at Oldsmar Christian High School in Florida in 2006. He coached in the college ranks before moving overseas, where he worked in China, Germany, South Korea, Slovakia and Israel.
Pannone did two separate stints with the Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem.
In 2019, Pannone became head coach of the Erie Bayhawks, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate. Pannone remained with the club when they relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, in 2021.
The Oats-led Crimson Tide are coming off their winningest season in program history. Alabama went 31-6. It lost to San Diego State in the Sweet 16.
Pannone’s move to Alabama further solidifies ties between the college program and the Pelicans. The Pelicans have two players on their roster who played for Oats. They took speedster guard Kira Lewis Jr. with the 13th pick in 2020. Then, the Pelicans drafted defensive stopper Herb Jones at No. 35 in 2021.
The Pelicans went 42-40 this season. Their season ended Wednesday with a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the play-in tournament.
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