Chicago Bulls Assistant Nate Loenser

I didn’t like track or soccer because... that’s what the one-armed person was supposed to do

We are always seeking out great underdog stories. To become a Moonlighter, you must have not only a passion for your sport or competition but also a drive to persist. That’s what makes you an underdog. You overcame long odds or tough competition to reach your goals. Being an underdog isn’t easy, but that doesn’t bother Moonlighters. This week’s Moonlighter didn’t just overcome long odds once. Nate Loenser has reached his goals at every level: first as a multi-sport standout in high school, then as a walk-on baseball player in college, and now on the sidelines of an NBA team. Loenser has one of the best most interesting underdog stories you’ll hear in sports.

I didn’t even have a jersey number at the time… coach just says “you’re in”

Nate Loenser was born without his left hand. However, that never slowed him down, let alone stopped him, from pursuing his dreams on the field. Loenser was a multi-sport varsity athlete, and an all-state baseball player, for NU High in Cedar Falls. After committing to serve as a basketball manager for Tim Floyd at Iowa State, Nate ended up walking on to the Iowa State baseball team. Loenser was cut from the team after the first time he tried out but was asked to come back to the team as a senior after getting noticed in a wood bat league game. In true Moonlight Graham fashion, Loenser had one at-bat (a walk) and a run scored. The Cyclone baseball program was cut later that same season. 

I’m a big believer that coaching is teaching

After college, Loenser took a job coaching as a grad-assistant for Larry Eustachy at Southern Miss. Loenser credits Eustachy with teaching him a lot about coaching and working with high-level athletes. Following a stint as a high school basketball coach, Loenser went back to Ames to serve as a grad assistant under Fred Hoiberg on some those great recent Cyclone teams. Loenser followed Hoiberg to Chicago and has worked his way up from video coordinator and currently serves as an assistant coach for the Bulls.