Nebraska assistant Armon Gates is taking a job with Oregon, a source confirmed to the Omaha World-Herald on Friday.
Gates, the Huskers’ longest-tenured assistant, joined the staff in 2018 under Tim Miles. He was the only assistant retained when Fred Hoiberg took the job in 2019.
“I appreciate all of Armon’s contributions to Husker basketball over the past four-plus seasons,” Hoiberg said in a statement. “He has been a valuable member of our coaching staff since I arrived three years ago.”
Gates primarily coached Nebraska’s guards and helped NU with scouting, player development, game plans and recruiting.
Nate Loenser, who was hired last offseason, is now Hoiberg’s longest-tenured assistant. Loenser also worked for Hoiberg when Hoiberg coached the Chicago Bulls.
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Gates will be the second coach Hoiberg replaces this offseason. The Huskers hired Adam Howard after parting ways with former lead recruiter Matt Abdelmassih in March. They opted not to replace special assistant Doc Sadler, with whom NU cut ties one day later.
Gates joins an Oregon program that has compiled 12 consecutive winning seasons and earned seven NCAA Tournament bids under Dana Altman.
Hoiberg said the Huskers will be “diligent” in their search for Gates’ replacement.
Meet the Husker men’s basketball team’s 2022 recruiting class
𝘚𝘈𝘔 𝘎𝘙𝘐𝘌𝘚𝘌𝘓 | 𝘎 | 𝘚𝘌𝘕𝘐𝘖𝘙
The specs: 6-foot-6, 220 pounds.
Before Nebraska: A former Lincoln East standout, Sam Griesel spent the past four seasons at North Dakota State, where he became one of the top players in the Summit League.
How he landed with the Huskers: Transfer portal, announced decision March 20.
Griesel’s game: Griesel was NDSU’s second-leading scorer (14.3 points) and rebounder (6.6), and led the team in assists while finishing second on the team in steals this past season.
The quote: “It’s a dream come true. It’s, quite honestly, a position that I never thought I would be in even two weeks ago,” Griesel told the Journal Star’s Chris Basnett on March 20.
𝘉𝘓𝘈𝘐𝘚𝘌 𝘒𝘌𝘐𝘛𝘈 | 𝘍 | 𝘚𝘖𝘗𝘏𝘖𝘔𝘖𝘙𝘌
The specs: 6-foot-11, 230 pounds.
Before Nebraska: Keita, from Wichita, Kansas, played two seasons at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College.
How he landed with the Huskers: Keita committed to Nebraska in Feb. 2021 and signed months later in November.
Keita’s game: Keita was a national junior college player of the year candidate this past season after leading Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College to a national title in 2021. He averaged 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 2021-22.
The quote: “Blaise has dynamic physical tools, great size, athleticism, length and power to become a high-level big man in the Big Ten,” Fred Hoiberg said in a Nov. 10, 2021, news release. “His ability to score around the rim as well as being able to extend out and be a threat beyond the arc will make him a weapon within our offense.”
𝘋𝘌𝘕𝘐𝘔 𝘋𝘈𝘞𝘚𝘖𝘕 | 𝘍 | 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘚𝘏𝘔𝘈𝘕
The specs: 6-foot-5, 180 pounds.
Before Nebraska: Dawson, who joins the Huskers out of high school, boosted his recruiting stock on the AAU circuit with the California Stars program.
How he landed with the Huskers: Dawson picked NU over Georgia Tech and Iona. He announced his decision in Oct. 2021.
Dawson’s game: His athleticism within a 6-5 frame is certainly intriguing, and Fred Hoiberg said as much in November. “He plays aggressively and brings a multi-level scoring presence to our system,” the coach said.
The quote: “I feel like I made the right decision,” Dawson told the Journal Star in Oct. 2021. “I feel like the playstyle is how I want to play: fast and with pace. That’s how I played in AAU and that’s how I played my best and got all my offers. So I feel like this is the right path
𝘙𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘓 𝘓𝘓𝘖𝘠𝘋 | 𝘗𝘎 | 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘚𝘏𝘔𝘈𝘕
The specs: 6-foot-6, 190 pounds.
Before Nebraska: After starring at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., Lloyd transferred to national power Sierra Canyon last season and averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists per contest playing on the same team as 2022 five-star prospect Amari Bailey and 2023 four-star prospect Lebron James Jr.
How he landed with the Huskers: Lloyd, who is considered a four-star prospect, is the third-highest ranked recruit to commit to NU. He had over 30 offers before deciding on the Huskers.
Lloyd’s game: At 6-6, Lloyd has a tall frame for a point guard, which can be especially useful in the Big Ten. Fred Hoiberg says Lloyd has an “elite skill set” and praised his ability to “create plays for himself and for others.”
The quote: “Just being a part of something new, I feel like part of a new wave that’s just beginning, and it’s going to grow even more. So it’s just a blessing to be a part of this,” Lloyd told the Journal Star’s Chris Basnett in July 2021.
𝘑𝘈𝘔𝘈𝘙𝘘𝘜𝘌𝘚 𝘓𝘈𝘞𝘙𝘌𝘕𝘊𝘌 | 𝘚𝘎 | 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘚𝘏𝘔𝘈𝘕
The specs: 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
Before Nebraska: Lawrence didn’t have any Division I offers before his senior year of high school at Roselle Catholic in New Jersey. But it was a head-turning run on the AAU that did the trick.
How he landed with the Huskers: Lawrence went from zero offers to 17 and ultimately picked the Huskers over Wake Forest during a ceremony broadcast on Instagram Live in Oct. 2021.
Lloyd’s game: Noticing a trend here? At 6-4, Lawrence is another lengthy guard. Clearly, Fred Hoiberg made that a priority when recruiting. Lloyd also has the reputation of being a strong shooter, which is music to his future head coach’s ears.
The quote: “I don’t want to tear up right now,” Lawrence told NJHoopRecruit during his October announcement. “Probably later. But the feeling, it’s just insane. I’m really excited.”
𝘑𝘜𝘞𝘈𝘕 𝘎𝘈𝘙𝘠 | 𝘍 | 𝘑𝘜𝘕𝘐𝘖𝘙
The specs: 6-foot-6, 218 pounds.
Before Nebraska: A former four-star prospect in high school, Gary chose Alabama, where he spent two seasons after redshirting in 2019-20. Last season, Gary started 16 games for the Crimson Tide.
How he landed with the Huskers: Gary visited Lincoln in mid-April and committed to the program via social media later that week.
Gary’s game: At 6-6, Gary plays even bigger and offers a legitimate shot-blocking threat. He was fourth in total blocked shots on Alabama’s roster last season.
𝘌𝘔𝘔𝘈𝘕𝘜𝘌𝘓 𝘉𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘖𝘜𝘔𝘌𝘓 | 𝘎 | 𝘚𝘌𝘕𝘐𝘖𝘙
The specs: 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
How he landed with the Huskers: After spending three seasons at SMU, Bandoumel hit the transfer portal and ultimately chose Nebraska.
Bandoumel’s game: Nearly two-thirds of Bandoumel’s shot attempts in the 2021-22 season came from beyond the arc, and he provided SMU with a willing defender on the other end of the floor.
The quote: “Defensively, he has the size and athleticism to guard several spots which matches up well with our other backcourt players,” Fred Hoiberg said in a May 17 news release.
