Buffalo hires Nate Oats to replace Bobby Hurley

Just two days after Bobby Hurley was named head coach at Arizona State, Buffalo found their next head coach. Good thing for them is that they didn't need to do a national search, or even a search outside of their own campus.

Assistant Nate Oats was promoted to the head coach position after serving as the interim coach after Hurley's departure. The news was reported by ESPN's Jeff Goodman:

Buffalo has hired assistant Nate Oats to replace Bobby Hurley, sources told ESPN.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 11, 2015

Nate Oats takes over on a permanent basis. Was extremely successful at Romulus High -- and also recruited MAC Player of Year Justin Moss.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 11, 2015

Buffalo has majority returning from NCAA tournament team. Oats keeps the team intact and can also coach.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 11, 2015

Oats was Hurley's top assistant and also his recruiting coordinator. Like Goodman mentioned, he was a head coach at Romulus High School in Romulus, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit) for 11 seasons. He recruited Justin Moss and would seem to have many relationships within Detroit, a city that produces many good college basketball players.

Buffalo made a quick, smart hire, and will be competitive once again in the MAC next season with a strong core of returning players.