Men's Basketball
Girma, Nate
Nate Girma
- Title:
- Director of Athletic Performance
Men's Basketball
- Alma Mater:
- Seattle Pacific, '12
Nate Girma enters his third season as the men’s basketball team’s athletic performance coach in 2023-24. Girma returned to UCLA in Oct. 2021 after having assisted the Bruins’ program from 2018-20.
Girma oversees all aspects of the men’s basketball team’s strength and conditioning program. The 2023-24 campaign will mark UCLA’s seventh season using the state-of-the-art Kevin Love Strength and Conditioning Center, located on the second level of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center (opened in October 2017).
Girma played a vital role in UCLA’s success during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons as the Bruins’ director of athletic performance. The Bruins went 31-6 in 2022-23 and won the Pac-12 Conference’s regular-season crown. UCLA went 27-8 and finished in second place in the Pac-12 standings in 2021-22. UCLA advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 both years. The Bruins were ranked in the top 25 poll (both AP and Coaches) in each week of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.
During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, Girma assisted the UCLA men’s basketball team in a variety of athletic performance activities. His previous responsibilities had included the development of athletic performance training plans, sports science and nutrition.
Girma had previously served in similar capacities at the University of Washington and UC San Diego.
While working at UC San Diego from 2015-17, Girma was the primary strength and conditioning coach for multiple athletic teams, including the baseball and water polo programs. He assisted with performance training responsibilities with the UCSD men’s and women’s basketball teams and managed the lifting schedules for 23 varsity athletic programs.
Prior to his time in San Diego, Girma worked as a performance coach in the Seattle area and served as an intern strength and conditioning coach at the University of Washington (2013-14). He worked with the men’s basketball program at Washington and assisted with training for numerous Olympic sport teams.
Girma has also worked as a strength coach within the UCLA Recreation Office. His duties with the recreation office have included the instruction of multiple health and wellness programs for a variety of campus communities.
A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Girma graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2012 with his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He also earned his master’s degree in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
Girma, 34, also has his certification as a Performance Enhancement Specialist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Born and raised in Seattle, Girma was a four-year varsity basketball letterwinner at Seattle Prep before attending Seattle Pacific University.
Girma oversees all aspects of the men’s basketball team’s strength and conditioning program. The 2023-24 campaign will mark UCLA’s seventh season using the state-of-the-art Kevin Love Strength and Conditioning Center, located on the second level of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center (opened in October 2017).
Girma played a vital role in UCLA’s success during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons as the Bruins’ director of athletic performance. The Bruins went 31-6 in 2022-23 and won the Pac-12 Conference’s regular-season crown. UCLA went 27-8 and finished in second place in the Pac-12 standings in 2021-22. UCLA advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 both years. The Bruins were ranked in the top 25 poll (both AP and Coaches) in each week of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.
During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, Girma assisted the UCLA men’s basketball team in a variety of athletic performance activities. His previous responsibilities had included the development of athletic performance training plans, sports science and nutrition.
Girma had previously served in similar capacities at the University of Washington and UC San Diego.
While working at UC San Diego from 2015-17, Girma was the primary strength and conditioning coach for multiple athletic teams, including the baseball and water polo programs. He assisted with performance training responsibilities with the UCSD men’s and women’s basketball teams and managed the lifting schedules for 23 varsity athletic programs.
Prior to his time in San Diego, Girma worked as a performance coach in the Seattle area and served as an intern strength and conditioning coach at the University of Washington (2013-14). He worked with the men’s basketball program at Washington and assisted with training for numerous Olympic sport teams.
Girma has also worked as a strength coach within the UCLA Recreation Office. His duties with the recreation office have included the instruction of multiple health and wellness programs for a variety of campus communities.
A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Girma graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2012 with his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He also earned his master’s degree in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
Girma, 34, also has his certification as a Performance Enhancement Specialist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Born and raised in Seattle, Girma was a four-year varsity basketball letterwinner at Seattle Prep before attending Seattle Pacific University.
UCLA M. Basketball Media Availability - Players (Aug. 26, 2025)
Tuesday, August 26
UCLA M. Basketball Media Availability - Coach Cronin (Aug. 26, 2025)
Tuesday, August 26
UCLA M. Basketball Postgame - vs. Tennessee (March 22, 2025)
Saturday, March 22
UCLA M. Basketball Press Conference – Players (March 21, 2025)
Friday, March 21
