Every job is different. While some excellent coaches can continue to climb up the coaching ladder, some are already at the best job for them presently. While it could not have gotten any better for Hubert Davis leading his alma mater, he still failed in five years at North Carolina. Not to say that he is anything close to failing, but Nate Oats' last great job is likely going to be the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In the aftermath of Alabama's soul-crushing 90-77 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16, North Carolina fans should be more than okay with the fact Oats is not their head coach. He may be doing extraordinary things in Tuscaloosa, and more power to him over there. However, he just does not seem to have enough control of his program to think that it would translate over to UNC.
While even the best teams still lose to Michigan, the Aden Holloway nightmare was a disaster heading into the NCAA Tournament. It put way too much pressure on Labaron Philon Jr. to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders offensively. Add in the fact that Oats tried to get an ineligible player to suit up for them in Charles Bediako, only to later say Alabama could have used him vs. Michigan, is so rich.
Every program has skeletons in its closet, but do North Carolina fans really want to sign up for this?
Nate Oats does not seem to be built to take over at a place like UNC
Even though Oats has made it abundantly clear that he is "not looking to leave" Alabama, deep down, he knows he is coaching at a football school. All things equal, he will always play second fiddle to whoever is calling the shots on the gridiron. He may be a better head coach than Kalen DeBoer, but he has to accept that he needs to further entrench roots in Tuscaloosa. He could be a legend there.
Overall, the right head-coaching candidate will emerge for North Carolina. While it may not end up being Ben McCollum out of Iowa, it could be Tommy Lloyd coming over from Arizona. In all honesty, it may just end up being Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls, once their season finally comes to a merciless end. Right now, the idea of putting eggs into the Oats basket does not seem worthwhile...
Ultimately, the Tar Heels remain in the driver's seat to get whomever they want at head coach. That being said, there is one caveat to the situation. Should the Kansas job open up in the wake of Bill Self retiring, that could put some pressure on the North Carolina administration to get this ball rolling. Again, the NBA season does not end for the Bulls until April 12. Donovan would have to resign first.
Oats has Alabama in a great spot as a program, but how his season ended is not what UNC wants...