The University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball program announced that Nate Bethel is the team's new assistant coach for the 2021-22 season.
 
"We are very excited to add Nate to our staff," said head coach Matt Brock. "He was a team leader who had a lot of success on the court as a player and knows what it takes to win at a high level in the GLVC. Coach Bethel brings a lot to the table, intelligence, initiative, and connection to just name a few. His energy has already had an impact on our program."
 
Bethel returns to the court this year after being a player at GLVC rival McKendree from 2017-20. He played in 40 games, including 20 starts. He scored 351 points and grabbed 154 rebounds in his career. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds a game, and shot 48.3 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the free-throw line.
 
As a senior, he shot 91.1 percent from the free-throw line, the second-best mark in program history. That season, Bethel helped the Bearcats defeat four nationally-ranked teams, which was a new school record.
 
Bethel was a three-time member of the GLVC Academic All-Conference team, and earned the Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award in 2020.
 
Bethel also played one season at Navarro College, before transferring to Highland Community College. At Highland, he helped the team win a conference and regional championship, and advance to the national tournament.
 
Bethel graduated from McKendree in 2020. He is originally from Nassau, Bahamas, and attended St. Louis Christian Academy in St. Louis, Mo.