CHICAGO (May 11, 2021) – Nick Michael has been named director of sports performance for men's basketball at Loyola University Chicago, Ramblers men's basketball head coach Drew Valentine announced today. A graduate of Elmhurst University, Michael has nearly a decade of experience and most recently served as the strength and conditioning coach for the men's basketball and women's golf programs at the University of New Mexico. 
 
"I couldn't be more excited about adding Nick to our support staff. A former collegiate and professional basketball player himself, Nick has a great feel for what our young men are chasing every single day," Valentine said. "Nick comes extremely highly recommended across the industry and I'm really looking forward to the impact he's going to have on our student-athletes."
 
Prior to his recent stint at New Mexico, Michael spent three seasons in the same role at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and he also has honed his craft at the University of Missouri, Rice University, Virginia Commonwealth University and his alma mater, Elmhurst.
 
Michael, who played college basketball at Elmhurst, later went on to a professional playing career overseas in Ireland and Germany. He will be joined in Chicago by his wife, Keeley, and daughter, Charlotte.
 
Loyola men's basketball is coming off another spectacular season in 2020-21, going 26-5 and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16, while winning its third Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship in the last four years.