Fred Hoiberg announced Tuesday that Nebraska men’s basketball assistant coaches Nate Loenser, Ernie Zeigler and Pat Monaghan, along with general manager Luca Virgilio, have signed multi-year contract extensions.
Hoiberg said the success Nebraska had this year was a testament to the entire staff and that the university was rewarding them for the work they put in behind the scenes. He said Loenser, Zeigler and Virgilio have been vital over the last four years in helping the program build a winning culture and sustain success that Nebraska basketball had not seen in a long time. Hoiberg also said Monaghan stepped in seamlessly and made a significant impact with his work ethic and knowledge in recruiting.
Loenser received a new title as associate head coach after completing his fifth season on the Husker staff. He coordinates Nebraska’s defense and leads the team’s individual skill development programs, a role that helped the Huskers rank eighth nationally in defensive efficiency last season while leading the Big Ten in scoring defense at 66.2 points per game.
Zeigler is finishing his fourth season on the staff and has helped Nebraska reach the postseason in three straight seasons for the first time in over a quarter of a century. He works with the offense and plays a major role in game planning, scouting and recruiting. During his career, he has been part of 10 NCAA Tournament teams as an assistant coach.
Monaghan joined the staff in April of 2025 and assists in all areas of the program, including player development, game planning and recruiting. Hoiberg said Monaghan’s work helped Nebraska win a school-record 28 games and reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history in 2025-26.
Virgilio is the longest-tenured member of Hoiberg’s staff and serves as the program’s general manager. He oversees roster composition and player acquisition, including high school and international players, the transfer portal, player evaluation and retention. With Nebraska coming off its best modern run, the extensions lock in the people Hoiberg credited most for making it possible.
