Nate Loenser

Nate Loenser (pronounced Lenzer) is in his fourth season with the Husker coaching staff.  A former NBA assistant, Loenser plays an extensive role in nearly every facet of the program, including leading the Huskers’ individual skill development programs, opponent scouting, game planning and recruiting.  He has helped four players earn All-Big Ten honors in his tenure, including Keisei Tominaga (2023-24), Rienk Mast (2024), Derrick Walker (2023) and Bryce McGowens (2022).  Tominaga played in the 2024 Olympics and signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers in 2024.  McGowens was a third-team All-Big Ten pick as a freshman and  became NU’s highest draft pick since 1998 when he was picked No. 40 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. 

Loenser worked with head coach Fred Hoiberg at both Iowa State (2013-15) and with the Chicago Bulls (2015-18).  Loenser came to Lincoln after spending five seasons with the Bulls, including three seasons as an assistant coach for Hoiberg and Jim Boylen. His coaching emphasis was on the offensive end, while he also handled opponent scouting for select teams and worked extensively in player development. He helped develop two-time NBA all-star Zach Lavine as well as Kris Dunn, Ryan Arcidiacono, Justin Holiday, Chandler Hutchison, David Nwaba, Denzel Valentine and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot during his tenure with the Bulls. Loenser also served as the Bulls’ NBA Summer League coach in 2019, a roster which featured NBA Lottery pick Coby White and ran the Bulls’ predraft workouts for three seasons.

Prior to joining the Bulls coaching staff, he was the head coach of the Windy City Bulls D-League team in 2016-17. He guided the expansion franchise to a 23-27 record, which was the best of the three expansion franchises that season. He developed players such as Spencer Dinwiddie, Jake Layman, Bobby Portis, Cristiano Felício, Jerian Grant, Cameron Payne, Denzel Valentine, Paul Zipser, Alfonzo McKinnie and R.J. Hunter.

Loenser spent two years on Hoiberg’s Iowa State staff and was a key component in helping the Cyclones to a pair of Big 12 Tournament titles. He was the Cyclones’ Director of Player Development in 2014-15, as ISU went 25-9 and tied for second in the Big 12. That season, Georges Niang earned All-America honors, while Niang, Monté Morris and Jameel McKay were recognized on the All-Big 12 teams. McKay was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. 

In his first season, Loenser served as graduate assistant as the program enjoyed one of its best seasons in program history.  The Cyclones finished with 28 wins, won the Big 12 Tournament title and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. ISU ranked in the top three nationally in scoring offense, assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.  Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane both earned All-America accolades for their efforts.

After one season at Northern University High School in Cedar Falls, Loenser began his collegiate coaching career at Southern Mississippi. He served on Larry Eustachy’s staff for six seasons, helping the Golden Eagles post a pair of 20-win seasons and reach the CIT in 2010. He handled recruiting, opponent scouting and on-court coaching during his tenure at USM. Loenser returned to Iowa to coach high school basketball, serving as the head coach at Spirit Lake High School before joining the Iowa State staff in 2013.

 A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Loenser was a 2002 graduate of Iowa State, where he played baseball for the Cyclones in 2001. He was a four-sport athlete (baseball, basketball, football, and golf) at Northern University High School, as he fell two tackles shy of the school’s single-season record of tackles held by College Football Hall of Famer Trev Alberts.

He and his wife Jackie have three daughters, Delaney, Logan and Hadley.

Loenser at a Glance

Experience
2021-Pres.	Nebraska, Assistant Coach
2017-20	Chicago Bulls, Assistant Coach
2016-17	Windy City Bulls, Head Coach
2015-16	Chicago Bulls, Video Coordinator
2014-15	Iowa State, Director of Player Development
2013-14	Iowa State, Graduate Assistant
2010-13	Spirit Lake (Iowa) High School, Head Coach
2009-10	Southern Miss, Director of Basketball Operations
2004-09	Southern Miss, Assistant Coach
2003-04	Northern University HS, Head Coach
Education
2002	Iowa State
Family
Wife:	Jackie
Daughters:	Delaney, Logan and Hadley