SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- John Brown University men's basketball head coach Jason Beschta has officially promoted veteran assistant Nate Quilling to associate head coach, the 11-year Golden Eagle bench boss announced Thursday morning (July 10).
"I'm incredibly thankful for this opportunity," Quilling admitted. "JBU has been a special place for my family and me, and I'm grateful to Coach Beschta and Robyn Daugherty for their steady leadership. I'm excited to continue building on last season's success alongside our outstanding student-athletes."
Quilling, who returned to JBU in 2023 for his second stint with the program, will enter his fifth season overall with the Golden Eagles and his third consecutive year working alongside Beschta. During his tenure at John Brown, Quilling has helped guide the program to consistent success, compiling a 61-44 overall record (.581) and 47-33 conference mark while reaching the Sooner Athletic tournament semifinals three times in four seasons.
"Nate has been an integral part of our program over the past few years," said Beschta. "His impact is felt throughout our program and culture. His ability to teach the game, motivate players to reach their potential, build strength in the weight room, develop individual skills, and prepare us for upcoming opponents is exceptional—and it continues to improve every season."
The Elk Mound, Wisconsin native first joined the Golden Eagles staff for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, helping the program achieve a combined 27-20 record during those campaigns. Both seasons concluded with semifinal appearances in the SAC tournament.
Following his initial two-year stint in Siloam Springs, Quilling spent the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach at Corban University in Salem, Oregon. During his lone season with the Warriors, he helped lead the program to a 20-11 record and an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championships while producing three All-Cascade Collegiate Conference student-athletes.
Quilling returned to JBU in 2023, and the Golden Eagles posted a 16-13 overall record and 13-9 conference mark in his first season back, again advancing to the SAC tournament semifinals. Last season, the program improved to 18-11 overall and 16-8 in conference play, earning a quarterfinal appearance in the league tournament. Quilling also coordinates the team's offense, and his impact has been measurable - the Golden Eagles jumped from 10th in the conference in points per game during his first season back to 3rd in 2024-25.
Prior to his time in Siloam Springs, Quilling served as an assistant coach at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, where he had previously starred as a student-athlete. During his three-year tenure with the Trojans, he assisted in all areas of the program, from player development and strength conditioning to scouting reports and recruiting efforts. The program achieved a 42-48 record during his coaching tenure, including a standout 21-11 campaign in 2017-18 that earned an at-large berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships.
As a player at Trinity International, Quilling capped his collegiate career with a remarkable senior season in 2016-17. The Trojans established a single-season program record with a 30-6 mark, capturing the Chicagolands Collegiate Athletic Conference title before advancing to the quarterfinals of the national tournament.
"Even more importantly, Nate genuinely loves and cares for every player in our program," Beschta added. "He invests in their lives to help them grow as students, as men, and ultimately as followers of Jesus. I'm incredibly thankful for Nate, and he is truly deserving of this promotion to associate head coach of our program."
Quilling earned his Bachelor of Arts in business management from Trinity International in 2018 before completing his Master of Arts in leadership two years later.
The Wisconsin native and his wife, Hannah, reside in Siloam Springs with their son, Brooks. The family is expecting their second child in October.
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