Nate Beutel’s success coaching the SUNY Niagara women’s basketball team has earned him a new job with the University at Buffalo program.
The school on Wednesday announced Beutel has joined women’s head coach Kristen Sharkey’s staff as an assistant coach and director of basketball operations.
Under Beutel, a Sanborn native, SUNY Niagara has won the past seven Region III Division II titles. The Thunderwolves reached the Final Four in each of his 13 seasons as head coach and finished as runner-up in three consecutive seasons before beginning their championship run.
“With Nate, we are getting a proven winner,” Sharkey said in a statement. “He built the NCCC women’s basketball program from the ground up and brings a wealth of knowledge as a former head coach. He has deep ties in the community that will help us in both recruiting and engagement as we move this program forward. Born and raised in Buffalo, he carries the grit, pride, and work ethic that define this city. I am so excited that Nate decided to join us on this journey! Buffalo, we got a GREAT one!”
He joins assistant coaches Allison Spaschak, Damon Jones and Summer Hemphill on Sharkey’s staff. Sharkey served as associate coach at Syracuse University before replacing Becky Burke, who left to coach the University of Arizona, last month.
Beutel has been named Region III Division II Coach of the Year six times. SUNY Niagara produced eight NJCAA Division II All-Americans and more than 40 All-Region players under his helm. Nearly 40 of his players moved on to four-year programs, with almost half receiving athletic scholarships, including five at the Division I level.
The Starpoint graduate also served as head coach of the softball and women’s lacrosse teams and taught sport management and physical education as an adjunct professor during his time at SUNY Niagara.
Beutel joined the school following a two-year stint as the boys’ varsity basketball coach at Grand Island High School. He has also coached basketball at Medaille College under Mike MacDonald, Wilson High School, XGen Elite AAU and Buffalo Storm AAU.