Nike Basketball Camp Pleasant Prairie RecPlex

Camp Coaches

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  Nate Sanderson

  Camp Director

  Nate Sanderson brings more than 24 years of coaching experience to Nike Basketball Camps and is widely respected as a championship program builder and player development specialist in Eastern Iowa.

  View Nate's Bio
  

  Nate Sanderson

  Camp Director

  Sanderson has served as a head varsity coach at four Iowa high schools, leading programs at Louisa-Muscatine, Springville, Linn-Mar, and Mount Vernon High School. His teams have consistently improved under his leadership, highlighted by three state championships (Springville 2016 & 2017; Mount Vernon 2025), five appearances in the state semifinals, and a reputation for excelling in high-pressure environments.

  At Mount Vernon, Sanderson inherited a program that won just one game the season prior to his arrival. In four years, he rebuilt the culture and competitive foundation, culminating in a 26–1 season and a Class 3A State Championship. His teams set numerous school and state tournament records, including offensive efficiency and defensive scoring averages, while developing multiple players who went on to compete at the collegiate level. He was recognized as the 1A Coach of the Year three times (2015, 2016, 2017) and 3A Coach of the Year in 2025.

  Sanderson’s coaching success is rooted in a game-based approach to skill development and an emphasis on using basketball as a tool to develop the whole person. His practices and camps focus on decision-making, spacing, shooting, and competitive habits that translate directly to game performance, while also teaching confidence, leadership, and resilience. He is known for creating environments where athletes are challenged, supported, and empowered to grow both on and off the court.

  Beyond the high school level, Sanderson has been deeply involved in coach education and leadership development. He previously served as Director of Product Development at Breakthrough Basketball, where he helped design nationally recognized training resources and spoke at coaching clinics across the country. He is currently an Executive Director of the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association, co-hosts the Coaching Culture Podcast, and regularly mentors high school and college coaches and athletes nationwide.

  In addition to his on-court work, Sanderson holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is currently pursuing a Professional Coaching Certificate through New Ventures West, with a focus on executive coaching for athletic coaches and athletes. During the 2025–26 season, he also served as a consultant and analyst for the Cornell College Women’s Basketball program.

  Sanderson continues to stay connected to grassroots development by coaching youth basketball, including his own daughters, and by leading camps and clinics designed to build strong fundamentals and a lifelong love of the game.

  Nike Basketball Camps directed by Nate Sanderson provide athletes with high-level instruction, competitive training, and a purpose-driven approach to development, helping players become better basketball players — and better people.
  

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  Luke Gromer

  Executive Director

  Luke Gromer is founder and president of RYG Athletics.

  View Luke's Bio
  

  Luke Gromer

  Executive Director

  RYG Athletics operates some of the country's highest-rated NIKE Sports Camps each summer, serving hundreds of athletes across various sports. These camps intentionally integrate leadership and mindset training into all sessions, helping athletes grow as people and players.

  Luke is a passionate advocate for restoring joy in sports. He has a decade of experience coaching multiple sports and over 15 years working in the summer camp space. Holding bachelor's and master's degrees in education, Luke is dedicated to using sports as a vehicle for teaching leadership and mindset skills that help athletes thrive in both sport and life.

  Beyond RYG Athletics, Luke also created and hosts The Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast, where he has conducted over 100 interviews with top coaches, sports psychologists, experts, and leaders on effective coaching.

  Additionally, Luke delivered a TEDx talk titled, The Missing Ingredient in Youth Sports where he outlined how we can provide better experiences in sport to youth athletes.

  Luke holds a bachelors and masters degree in education. He lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with his wife and three young children.