Blake Bonin enters his first season as an assistant coach with the Nebraska Wesleyan University men's basketball program in 2025-26.
Bonin joins the Prairie Wolves after a successful three-year stint at Franklin College, where he helped guide the Grizzlies to a 47-35 overall record and three straight Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament appearances. In 2024-25, Bonin played a pivotal role in Franklin’s historic season that included a conference tournament championship, the program’s first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, and the most single-season victories since 1998-99.
Bonin led efforts that doubled Franklin's roster size in his first year, bringing in 29 new student-athletes across two classes, including the program's first international signees since 2020.
At Franklin, Bonin assisted with player development, coordinated opponent scouting via Synergy, FastScout, and Hudl, and served as head coach of the Grizzlies' developmental team, providing game experience for over 20 student-athletes. Off the court, he designed social media graphics and content, managed travel logistics, and assisted with budget tracking and alumni engagement.
Bonin also served as Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Franklin and holds a certification through ExpertRating. He was responsible for designing and implementing performance programs for both the men's and women's basketball teams.
Prior to Franklin, Bonin was a graduate assistant at Division I Valparaiso University, where he served as head of player development. He was heavily involved in scouting, recruiting, and summer camp operations.
A native of Indiana, Bonin played collegiately at Earlham College, where he was a two-year team captain and a three-time Academic All-HCAC selection. He earned his B.A. in Global Management from Earlham in 2020 and a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Valparaiso in 2022.
At NWU, Bonin’s responsibilities will include recruiting, opponent scouting, player development, and program operations.
