Norton Senior Learning to Coach Hoops With Help From Wheaton

Watching basketball at Wheaton College is nothing new to Nate Steele.

As the son of the school’s head athletic trainer Greg Steele, the gym and field house inside of the Haas Athletic Center have become a familiar place for the Norton High School senior.

Like previous years, Steele is spending his winter watching Lyons basketball, but this time it is from the bench of the women’s team rather than in the stands.

With an interest in coaching, Steele joined the Wheaton women’s basketball team as an intern student coach to learn how to better run a team and watch the game from a coaches’ perspective.

While Steele has spent the last three years helping with his brother’s travel team, the move to a college squad put Steele in a new position. Instead of working with younger athletes, he is responsible for assisting a team where every member is older and has more experienced basketball players that may not want to take advice from a high school senior.

“I feel more reluctant to give my advice because I don’t know if criticizing older people, how they’ll take it. There are times where I feel like I should say something, but I don’t because it’s probably also hard for them too,” Steele said.

Despite his fears, Steele’s assistance in drills and post-game analysis has led to a bond of trust between the team and himself; leading to more open dialog during practices and after games.

“I think he did a good job in showing maturity and being patient with the process instead of jumping into it. He kind of observed everything first, took it in, and didn’t really give his insight until he was comfortable with the philosophy of the program,” Wheaton women’s basketball coach Melissa Hodgdon said.

With the faster pace of college games, the chance to be part of the team has given Steele an opportunity to study basketball from a new perspective. After games, Steele and the rest of the coaches give their critique of the game, allowing him the chance to discuss what he saw and learn what he may have missed.

Before the high school season started, Steele was able to attend all of the games and practices. But with film sessions, games, and practices for the Norton boys’ basketball team, which he is a part of, making it to Wheaton has become a bit more difficult. He does manage to attend weekend practices and games.

“We’re running the same schedule right now, which is tough; but it’s good that he was here consistently in the beginning because when he does come, it’s not like he’s throwing off our routine. He did build those relationships; he’s already known in the program, and he has his role in the program; so it’s easier for him to come on a Sunday,” Hodgdon said.

Next year, Steele is hoping to remain involved with Wheaton athletics when he attends the school as a freshman. He is considering majoring in environmental science.