Windy City Bulls name Nate Loenser head coach for inaugural season
The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native brings over 15 years of coaching experience at the professional and collegiate levels, including stints with the Chicago Bulls, the University of Southern Mississippi and Iowa State University
The Windy City Bulls, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, have announced Nate Loenser as the organization’s first head coach.
The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native brings over 15 years of coaching experience at the professional and collegiate levels, including stints with the Chicago Bulls, the University of Southern Mississippi and Iowa State University.
In 2015-16 with Chicago, Loenser served as the Video Coordinator for the Bulls. In that position, Loenser assisted and led on-floor skill development sessions with Bulls players and worked with Head Coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff to organize and present all scouting breakdowns for opponents and edits of practice and game video. He also updated and maintained the Bulls’ offensive and defensive playbooks.
While with Iowa State, he served as Director of Player Development and was a part of the coaching staff for two seasons in which the Cyclones won back-to-back Big 12 Conference Championships and made the NCAA Tournament twice, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2014. As Assistant Coach for six seasons at Southern Mississippi, which was coached by former National Coach of the Year Larry Eustachy, Loenser was responsible for all aspects of the basketball program, including recruiting, opponent scouting and on-court coaching.
“Nate’s work ethic and knowledge of our player development program make him a great fit to be the head coach of the Windy City Bulls. He has been involved in every aspect of basketball operations at both the collegiate and professional levels,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “The timing is perfect to apply his experience and skills in this new role.”
Loenser graduated from Iowa State and lives with his wife, Jackie, and daughter, Delaney.
Windy City also announced that Chicago Bulls Assistant General Manager Brian Hagen will serve as the NBADL franchise’s General Manager. Hagen will continue to serve as Chicago’s Assistant General Manager, a role he has maintained for the last four seasons. Prior to his time with the Bulls, he worked nine seasons for the New Orleans Hornets in multiple roles with the team’s Basketball Operations department. As General Manager of the Windy City Bulls, Hagen will oversee the team’s Basketball Operations department, including personnel, player development and D-League scouting.
Jeff Feld, a Denver native, has joined the organization as Windy City’s Manager of Basketball Operations after spending the previous four years with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a member of the basketball operations department, including serving as the Assistant General Manager for the Cavaliers’ NBADL team, the Canton Charge. The University of Arizona graduate began his career working under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson and Sean Miller at Arizona.
The Windy City Bulls are preparing for their inaugural season in the heart of Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Beginning in November, the team will play 24 home games at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The NBADL, which is entering its 16th season, will expand to 22 teams for the 2016-17 season with the additions of the Windy City Bulls, Greensboro Swarm and Long Island Nets. Last season saw 32 D-League players called up to the NBA a total of 42 times.
The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native brings over 15 years of coaching experience at the professional and collegiate levels, including stints with the Chicago Bulls, the University of Southern Mississippi and Iowa State University.
In 2015-16 with Chicago, Loenser served as the Video Coordinator for the Bulls. In that position, Loenser assisted and led on-floor skill development sessions with Bulls players and worked with Head Coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff to organize and present all scouting breakdowns for opponents and edits of practice and game video. He also updated and maintained the Bulls’ offensive and defensive playbooks.
While with Iowa State, he served as Director of Player Development and was a part of the coaching staff for two seasons in which the Cyclones won back-to-back Big 12 Conference Championships and made the NCAA Tournament twice, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2014. As Assistant Coach for six seasons at Southern Mississippi, which was coached by former National Coach of the Year Larry Eustachy, Loenser was responsible for all aspects of the basketball program, including recruiting, opponent scouting and on-court coaching.
“Nate’s work ethic and knowledge of our player development program make him a great fit to be the head coach of the Windy City Bulls. He has been involved in every aspect of basketball operations at both the collegiate and professional levels,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “The timing is perfect to apply his experience and skills in this new role.”
Loenser graduated from Iowa State and lives with his wife, Jackie, and daughter, Delaney.
Windy City also announced that Chicago Bulls Assistant General Manager Brian Hagen will serve as the NBADL franchise’s General Manager. Hagen will continue to serve as Chicago’s Assistant General Manager, a role he has maintained for the last four seasons. Prior to his time with the Bulls, he worked nine seasons for the New Orleans Hornets in multiple roles with the team’s Basketball Operations department. As General Manager of the Windy City Bulls, Hagen will oversee the team’s Basketball Operations department, including personnel, player development and D-League scouting.
Jeff Feld, a Denver native, has joined the organization as Windy City’s Manager of Basketball Operations after spending the previous four years with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a member of the basketball operations department, including serving as the Assistant General Manager for the Cavaliers’ NBADL team, the Canton Charge. The University of Arizona graduate began his career working under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson and Sean Miller at Arizona.
The Windy City Bulls are preparing for their inaugural season in the heart of Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Beginning in November, the team will play 24 home games at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The NBADL, which is entering its 16th season, will expand to 22 teams for the 2016-17 season with the additions of the Windy City Bulls, Greensboro Swarm and Long Island Nets. Last season saw 32 D-League players called up to the NBA a total of 42 times.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
You must be registered to post a comment