WASHINGTON - Third-year men's basketball head coach Duane Simpkins has announced the promotion of both Nate Bollinger and Jackie Manuel to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2025-26 season. The new titles come on the heels of the program's Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in March of 2025.
Both Bollinger and Manuel enter their third seasons at American as well, having started as assistant coaches for Simpkins in 2023.
"I'm thrilled to continue working with both Nate and Jackie for a third consecutive season," said Simpkins. "They've made me a better head coach with their insight, preparation, organizational skills, and their genuine care for our student-athletes and the program as a whole. This promotion is well-deserved."
Bollinger serves as the Eagles' offensive coordinator, specifically working with the team's guards. He also serves as the program's recruiting coordinator while coordinating non-conference scheduling and overseeing the team's academic progress. He was named to the 2024 100 Rising Stars: Men's Mid Major Assistants list.
Manuel serves as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, specifically working with the team's post players. He also serves as the program's academic coordinator and assists with coordinating the team's community service. The Eagles led the Patriot League in scoring defense in 2024-25 at 67.7 points per game, ranking 53rd nationally, and AU ranked second in the PL in opponent three-point field-goal percentage at .313.
Last season, the Eagles made a historic run, winning the 2024-25 Patriot League Championship and earning the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. American finished 22-13 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League, matching the program's all-time record for league wins in a season. The championship was clinched on the Eagles' home floor at Bender Arena in front of a packed house, capping off a season in which AU led the Patriot League in home attendance for the first time in over a decade. The team hit a program-record 299 three-pointers, and ranking third in the PL with 8.5 three-pointers made per game.
Three Eagles earned postseason honors, with Matt Rogers earning All-PL First Team recognition, point guard Elijah Stephens earning All-PL Third Team, and sophomore Greg Jones being named to the PL All-Defensive Team.
On the academic side, the team finished with a 3.19 GPA in the staff's first season and improved it to 3.26 in his second. The Eagles earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award in both 2024 and 2025, with nine players earning Patriot League Academic Honor Roll distinctions in both seasons, while Rogers was named to the Patriot League All-Academic Team in 2024 and graduate student Lincoln Ball earned the same honor in 2025.
For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MBasketball), Facebook (/AU.MBasketball) and Instagram (@au_mbasketball).
