Nebraska Assistant Coach Nate Loenser played four sports at Northern University High School and nearly broke the school single-season record for tackles. He fell two shy of Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts record when he was there.
Loenser coached at many different levels prior to his most recent stop at Nebraska, including a stint as head varsity baseball and basketball coach at his high school when he was just 21.
“I felt like I got my feet wet at an early age,” Loenser said. “I was the head varsity coach while I was still in school.”
Loenser began his coaching career very early on. Player development has seemed to be a focus for him at every stop. Whether he was at the high school level or the NBA level, the development of players is one constant.
He has played a role in the growth of players like Zach Lavine, Spencer Dinwiddie, Cameron Payne, and so many more.
Husker fans saw him help top recruit Bryce McGowens become an NBA draft pick after just one season with the team. McGowens had a high skillset coming into Nebraska, but as we have seen, not all five-star recruits pan out.
Recruiting is not always an exact science. No matter how many stars a player has, each recruit’s “situation and skillset is unique,” Loenser said. “That’s what makes this all fascinating.”
When referencing recruiting and player development, Loenser talked about the difference he has seen in players later in their careers. It can “depend on situation” with certain players.
Game planning and scouting are very important for the Huskers, and Loenser’s experience at all levels helps him do that.
Loenser spent time at both the high school and college level before he met up with Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State, his alma mater.
“Coach Hoiberg is more than a boss and more than a colleague; he’s a friend to my family,” Loenser said.
Loenser helped lead the Husker basketball team to a captivating finish this past season after injury issues nearly derailed them.
The Huskers finished with a 16-16 record, 11-4 at home, which included a sweep of rivals Creighton and Iowa.
