Pelicans assistant Ryan Pannone, Nicholls head coach Austin Claunch joining Alabama basketball coaching staff

Ryan Pannone, a New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach, and Nicholls head coach Austin Claunch have accepted an offer to join Nate Oats’ staff as an assistant at Alabama, The Tuscaloosa News reported this weekend.

Pannone has been an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans since July 2022. Before then, he was the head coach of the Erie Bayhawks/Birmingham Squadron, the NBA G League affiliate of the Pelicans, from 2019-2022.

Claunch went a 90-61 record witha a pair of Southland Conference regular season titles over the past five seasons. When he was elevated to lead the Colonels as an assistant coach, Claunch became the youngest Division I men’s basketball head coach.