Nathan Valentine joined the men's basketball coaching staff as a graduate assistant ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Valentine played five seasons of collegiate basketball, spending three years at Illinois Wesleyan University before concluding his career at Lawrence University. Prior to college, he earned Illinois All-State Honorable Mention recognition at Geneva High School.
At Lawrence, Valentine averaged 11.0 points and 3.0 assists per game during his junior season. As a senior, he shot 42 percent from three-point range and helped lead the Vikings to the eighth-most wins in program history. During his time with the Vikings, he also earned Midwest Conference Player of the Week honors.
In addition to his collegiate playing career, Valentine has coached with Mercury Elite AAU and Shoot 360 Naperville, working with youth and high school athletes in skill development. He is also the co-founder of Beyond the Arc Hoops, a Chicagoland-based basketball training organization that provides player development, camps, clinics, and competitive events for athletes of all ages.
Valentine graduated from Lawrence University with a bachelor's degree in Business & Entrepreneurship and a minor in Economics. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Leadership.
