Crisis Management in Tuscaloosa

What comes first, winning or a winning culture? Can a winning team have a bad culture? Can a losing team have a great one?

The answers are simple really: Winning can occur in a bad culture, but winning a championship — reaching the upper echelons of anything we do — can only be achieved by overcoming adversity and navigating trying times.

And this cannot happen without a great culture first.

Nate Oats is the head basketball coach of the University of Alabama, a school best known for its powerhouse football program that also has reached remarkable heights on the hardwood since his takeover in 2019. The Crimson Tide is currently ranked No. 2 in the country.

But while on-the-court highlights and marquee wins over top-flight programs have dominated the news for much of the season, another story is beginning to cast a dark, ominous cloud over Tuscaloosa.

In January, Darius Miles, a Crimson Tide junior forward, was charged alongside a friend with the murder of Jamea Jonae Harris, a 23-year-old mother, following what was reportedly an early morning dispute.

On Tuesday, it was shockingly revealed in court that Brandon Miller, the best player on the team and a projected top pick in this year’s NBA Draft, is suspected of delivering the gun to Miles that was used in the fatal shooting, according to CBS Sports.

Miles was immediately dismissed from the team upon his arrest in January. Miller has not been punished.

After the court revelation earlier this week, Oats defended his star freshman in remarks that raised eyebrows in the sports world and beyond.

“Can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice,” the coach said. “Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out."

"Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble, nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time,” Oats added.

A short while later, Oats and the university put out a statement “clarifying” these earlier comments — but the damage was already done.

The events and Oats’ initial statements have become a full-blown crisis for the program and the university.

We often define "crisis management" as applying strategies to help an organization deal with a sudden and significant negative event. What Oats said was really a crisis management failure.

Instead of bringing stability, accountability and perspective to a tragic situation, he created another crisis with his insensitive words that at best came off as out of touch.

With his comments, he indicated that he doesn't believe real culture or the ability to develop young college students into men extends past his gym.

As leaders, we need to understand that how our team members behave within our organization is a reflection of our own values and core philosophies.

Does this mean no one ever gets in trouble? No, problems will occur in any culture. It's the reaction to the problem that ultimately defines the culture and represents what we stand for as leaders.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

In essence, leaders will either rise to the occasion or come up short during instances of turbulence.

Oats made it clear he wants to win and believes winning comes before culture.

We shouldn't make the same mistake.