NU Advisory Partners Recruits Men’s Head Basketball Coach for Florida State
March 11, 2025 – NU Advisory Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Luke Loucks as its men’s basketball head coach for Florida State University (FSU). “I’m excited to announce that Luke Loucks has accepted our offer to become the next head men’s basketball coach at Florida State,” said Michael Alford vice president and director of athletics. “Luke will bring a unique combination of qualities to our program, and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our basketball history under his leadership. Throughout basketball at both the professional and collegiate levels, Luke has earned a reputation as one of the rising stars in coaching. Having been a key part of some of the best of what FSU basketball has been as a player, he also brings proven ability to develop players at the highest level of the sport.”
“I am thrilled to welcome Luke Loucks back to Florida State University as our next head men’s basketball coach,” Florida State president Richard McCullough said. “Luke’s exceptional coaching ability, profound leadership skills, and extensive basketball knowledge make him the perfect fit to lead our program. As a former Seminole, he understands the values and traditions that define FSU basketball. I am confident that under his guidance, Florida State will continue to achieve great success and uphold the proud legacy of Seminole basketball. Welcome home, coach Loucks!”
Mr. Loucks brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in professional, collegiate and international basketball. He specializes in on-court instruction and player development and most recently served as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings after spending time on staff with the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
“I am incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the head coach for the Florida State men’s basketball team,” Mr. Loucks said. “FSU has a rich basketball tradition, and I look forward to building on the legacy of our previous coaches, especially Coach Hamilton. I’d like to thank the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors for providing me with a strong coaching foundation. I’m eager to build our coaching staff with the best and brightest basketball coaches in America. They will have characteristics that support and push me while helping me build and develop a competitive team year after year. We will have a standard that we stick to on and off the court that will help build a championship-level culture. I am privileged to have seen firsthand what winning feels like at Florida State, and I am hungry for more.”
New Era
“I’m very excited about the future of our men’s basketball program, and also very pleased that this new era will represent a bridge to a successful past with a path to an even brighter future,” Mr. Alford said. “I’m also excited that Luke and his wife, Stevi, both intimately understand the experience of being an FSU student-athlete. They understand what a special place this is, and I’m extremely grateful for their desire to want to be part of it again.”
“I am incredibly thrilled for Luke, as he is incredibly deserving of this opportunity,” said Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings head coach 2022-2024. “Florida State is getting an absolute winner as a head coach and a gem of a person. Luke has experience in every facet of the game. He’s fantastic with player development, was part of a championship program in Golden State and was a huge asset to my coaching staff in Sacramento. He is a terrific connector with players and people and will be a tremendous leader on and off the floor for the Seminoles.”
In 2023, NU Advisory Partners was launched by former Russell Reynolds Associates recruiters Mar Hernandez, Libby Naumes, Meredith Rosenberg, and Nada Usina. The firm is focused on senior executive, operating, and board positions.
Ms. Hernandez is a trusted advisor to top executives and a global expert in corporate officer placements (CHRO, CFO, GC) across financial services, fintech, telecom, and hospitality. Prior to co-founding NU, she was a senior leader in the corporate officers, DE&I, and financial services practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she co-led the Hispanic Board Initiative. With over a decade in search and prior leadership roles in global firms, she has partnered with private equity firms and Fortune 500 companies to build high-performing leadership teams.
Related: NU Advisory Partners Retained by USA Swimming for CEO Search
Ms. Naumes specializes in placing go-to-market and commercial leaders across sports, media, entertainment, technology, consumer, retail, and marketplace industries. Prior to co-founding NU, she spent 11 years at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she built the consumer digital practice and co-led the global sports practice, working with major brands and leagues worldwide. Previously, she was director of marketing and communications for NASDAQ’s Global Corporate Solutions Group
NU Advisory Partners Recruits CEO for 2U
NU Advisory Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Kees Bol as the new CEO of 2U in Arlington, VA. He succeeds Matt Norden, who has served as interim CEO since October 2024. “Congratulations Kees Bol on joining 2U as chief executive officer,” said Meredith Rosenberg, co-founder of NU Advisory. “With your deep industry and leadership expertise, we look forward to seeing you drive the organization’s continued growth and empower learners and institutions globally.”
Ms. Rosenberg is a market-leading voice in edTech, where she leverages over 25 years of experience in the education sector. A recognized leader, she is known for her innovative approach and commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. At NU, Ms. Rosenberg guides public and private companies, investors, universities, and nonprofits in navigating the evolving education landscape.
Before co-founding NU, Ms. Rosenberg led the global edTech practice at Russell Reynolds Associates. Her career is marked by her ability to challenge conventional thinking. She has held key roles at a number of tech and edTech-focused companies and she holds several board roles including The Perkins School, Cornell University Brooks School of Public Policy, and The Fletcher School at Tufts. She is also a former trustee of Cornell University. Her thought leadership and advocacy are informative as well as transformative, driving meaningful conversations about the future of work and education at industry events.
Ms. Usina is a recognized industry leader in board, CEO, and C-suite placements across technology, sports, media, entertainment, and industrial sectors. Prior to co-founding NU, she was on the executive committee at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she led the global technology, media, entertainment, and sports practices, shaping leadership across these industries.
With over 15 years in executive search, Ms. Usina is a trusted advisor to leading PE and VC firms, Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, and boards on leadership, succession planning, and board composition. She’s held executive roles at Nokia, broadcast.com—which IPO’d and was acquired by Yahoo!, where she later held an executive role—and Comcast Ventures-backed XOS Technologies, which she successfully sold and merged with NeuLion. Ms. Usina also played key leadership roles with the Florida Sports Foundation, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, and Florida State University Athletics.
Related: NU Advisory Partners Assists Sigma7 with Chief Technology Officer Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
