Nebraska Shakes Up Coaching Staff

After two seasons under head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have shaken up their staff with a shift among the assistant coaches and support staff.

Bobby Lutz, Special Assistant to the Head Coach for the past two seasons, left the Husker program last month to pursue his own coaching opportunities. Lutz helped with game planning, non-conference scheduling and assisting Hoiberg and the Husker staff in the day-to-day operation while in Lincoln. He previously served as a collegiate head coach or assistant coach since 1985, and oversaw postseason play as a head coach in 14 of his 21 seasons at the helm. Lutz cited the desire to return to a coaching role as his reason for leaving.

Replacing Lutz in his role is now former assistant coach Doc Sadler. Sadler served as the head coach of the Nebraska program from 2006 to 2012, leading the Huskers to three NIT appearances (2008, 2009 and 2011) and posting a 101-89 record. He first teamed up with Hoiberg at Iowa State in 2013-14, helping the Cyclones to a 28-8 record, a Sweet 16 appearance, and the school’s first Big 12 Tournament title since 2000. He was the head coach of the Sothern Miss Golden Eagles for five seasons prior to joining Hoiberg back in Nebraska as an assistant coach for the past two seasons.

Replacing Sadler as an assistant coach is Nate Loenser. A former assistant with the Chicago Bulls under Hoiberg, Loenser started out as a coach in high school before taking roles over the years with Southern Mississippi and later Iowa State under Hoiberg. He spent two years under Hoiberg at Iowa State, including the role of Director of Player Development in 2014-15.

Prior to joining the Bulls’ coaching staff, Loenser 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. Overall he spent five seasons with the Bulls, including three seasons as an assistant coach for Hoiberg and then Jim Boylen. His specialty was the offensive end and he worked with 2021 NBA all-star Zach Levine, among many other standouts with the Bulls during his tenure.

Finally, the Huskers hired Kurt Joseph as the new Director of Men’s Basketball Strength & Conditioning. Joseph joins the after spending the last two-plus seasons as an assistant strength coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Prior to that, he was the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s NBA G League affiliate. Joseph also worked as a weight room assistant with the New York Knicks and before that as a strength coach intern with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021. Previous strength & conditioning coach Tim Wilson appears to have moved to the same role at Nebraska but with the women’s rifle team.

There are also emerging rumors that Doc Sadler is in the mix as one of five finalists candidates for head coach of the men’s basketball team at the University of Texas-El Paso. The hire would mark a return for him to a program he oversaw for two years prior to his initial head coaching hire at Nebraska. He went 48-18, including a 25-7 mark in conference play, while making the NCAA and the NIT. Should any further movement happen, we will be sure to update you.