Matt Nadelhoffer

Matt Nadelhoffer


Since coming to Millikin, all Nadelhoffer has done is turn around a program that was one of the worst teams in the country, to respectability. Nadelhoffer has never lacked confidence in what he is doing at Millikin, despite going 1-24 in his first year.

Rather than focus on record he set his focus on changing the programs culture and overall talent. Of the 2011-12 season, Mark Tupper wrote, “Typically, Nadelhoffer assembled his team and talked about matters beyond basketball. He asked how they felt about themselves. He got them making a list of characteristics they’d hope to find in an ideal wife. When they mentioned independent, hard-working and loyal, he asked them, ‘Could you offer those same attributes to a woman?’”
 
What They’re Saying
About Coach Nadelhoffer:

“Matt is one of the great up and coming coaches and continues to stress the fundamentals to his players. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and it reflects in the way he cares for his players and program. Millikin Basketball and the community will be impacted immediately.”
Jay Wright—Head Coach, Villanova University
"As an All-American player, Matt was as intense and focused as a coach could desire, as a successful coach himself, he has maintained that exceptional degree of focus and intensity."
Bill Harris-Former Head Coach, Wheaton College
"Matt will bring tremendous enthusiasm to the Decatur community. Millikin University has hired the right man to turn the program around and to contend for conference championships for years to come. His positive attitude and focus on being a relationship driven coach will become contagious.”
Pat Chambers—Head Coach, Penn State University
In 2012-13, with 15 new freshmen (including 5 freshmen starters) Nadelhoffer led Millikin out of the basement to an 8-17 (4-10) record. For the first time in 3 years they won a CCIW (College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) conference game. For the first time in 3 years they won multiple games in a row. They finished 6th in the conference for first time since 2009. Nadelhoffer started up a student section which helped the Big Blue to a 5-5 (.500) home record and doubled attendance at home basketball games.

Prior to Millikin, Nadelhoffer guided the Eastern program for nine years. Under Nadelhoffer’s direction the Eagles had the school’s highest Freedom Conference finish in school history finishing in second in 2009-10. He led the team to a school record 17 wins (17-9) in the 2008-09 season. Nadelhoffer led the Eagles to 16 win seasons in 2005-06 (16-10) and 2006-07 (16-11).

Nadelhoffer is a 1998 graduate of Wheaton College where he earned All-America and All-CCIW honors as a player.  He set an NCAA record for assists in a tournament game with 20 and
 holds the Wheaton record for assists in a season at 221. Nadelhoffer was inducted into the Wheaton College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

After college, he played in the CBA and had a tryout stint with the Miami Heat in the NBA. In addition to his playing experience in the US, Nadelhoffer has played in Croatia, Portugal, England, Spain, Ireland, and Switzerland.