After a year of playing professional basketball in the United Kingdom, former Ephs men’s basketball center Nate Karren ’23.5 has transitioned from the court to behind the bench. In September, Karren became a coaching associate for the Oklahoma City (OKC) Blue, the G League affiliate of the OKC Thunder.
Karren spent last season with the Ulster University Basketball Club in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he played center. Then, Williams Head Coach Kevin App connected him with two different opportunities, according to Karren. “One was for a club in Australia that was looking for someone who fit my player profile, and another was from the assistant GM [general manager] with the OKC Thunder,” Karren told the Record. Though coaching was never something he considered in college, Karren was intrigued by the offer. “Whatever comes to me is meant for me,” he said.
During the Thunder’s 2025 NBA playoff run, Karren met with the team’s head coach, Mark Daigneault, and general manager, Sam Presti. “Meeting all of these people, it was very apparent that [OKC] is not only a high-level organization, but it’s filled with really smart, talented, and community-driven people,” he said. “I really thought I could fit in.”
In his role with the Blue, Karren said he has a range of duties, including film organization, administrative support, and on-court work. “There’s a lot of long hours and hard work, but you get to look up every day and see the NBA logo and NBA stars you used to watch on TV,” Karren said. “So it’s hard to have a bad day at that point.”
Karren’s excitement is also fueled by the energy and resources that go into the OKC organization. “It’s amazing to see how much time, effort, and focus are invested into getting players to play their best basketball,” he said.
Though coaching was not on his radar as a student-athlete at the College, Karren said his experience on the team formed the foundation of his coaching philosophy. “Coach App did a really good job in terms of messaging that [coaching] was always about creating an advantage for your team,” he said.
Karren also still values App’s dedication to coaching and his appreciation for the role. “The biggest thing is doing your job to the best of your ability, and expressing how lucky we are to be in this position where sports are such a big part of your life,” Karren said. “I’m just trying to bring that same mentality to this job every day.”
Karren’s academic experience at the College also proved essential for his coaching future. “Workload at Williams really prepared me for what this coaching job entails,” Karren said. “It’s long hours of different projects that you’re working on simultaneously.”
As he reflects on his path so far, Karren hopes current students at the College remain open to possibilities they might not have initially imagined. “The biggest thing is to never discount the opportunity that’s given to you,” he said. “Be where your feet are and chase those dreams.”
Looking ahead, Karren remains focused on continuing his career in the sport and is grateful for the opportunities he’s received so far. “I’m not sure where [my career] will go, but I’m very glad to be on the first step of the path,” he said. “I’m grateful to be working in basketball still, and I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that continues to happen.”
