November 19th 2025
By: Andrew Haska
A New Chapter for the AlleyCats Under Coach and General Manager Nathan Bussberg
The Indianapolis AlleyCats begin 2026 with a clear and confident direction as Nathan Bussberg steps into a four year agreement as Head Coach and General Manager. The length of the commitment signals that the organization is ready to build something stable, something lasting, and something rooted in shared values. Bussberg arrives with both a competitive heart and an executive mind, which gives this transition a sense of momentum.
Who Nathan Bussberg Is
Bussberg’s background shows a coach who thrives in multiple environments. His Track and Field teams collected 186 wins. His basketball teams reached 56 wins. His club and youth ultimate groups earned more than 100 victories. Each sport offered a different challenge, but all of them highlighted his ability to bring groups together and create year to year consistency. Beyond sports he leads Aileron Group, a company built around teaching leaders how to build systems that support purpose, accountability, and growth.
Those two paths intersect in a meaningful way. Bussberg combines the energy of a coach with the patience of a builder. He believes a successful season is not only about plays and matchups. It is about the structure that holds everything up. The players feel that. The staff feels that. The fans will feel it too. When he was first introduced he kept the message short and genuine. He said he was "excited for the chance to compete."
Vision for the Program
The heart of his leadership begins with a simple idea. Bring people together.
He said, “My vision is to bring a group of individuals together to compete as a group and a unit. We want to be successful but not at the expense of the culture we are developing.”
It is important to understand what he means when he talks about culture. He is not talking about slogans taped to a locker room wall. He is talking about daily habits. He is talking about how players treat one another in difficult moments. He is talking about becoming the kind of team that responds with maturity instead of panic. The vision is built on connection and the idea that a unified team can outperform a talented one. For Bussberg, unity is the strongest competitive advantage.
Rebuilding the Foundation
The first step in his new role was not about designing new plays or finding new personnel. It was about understanding the roots of the program.
He said, “I wanted to take time to understand the full picture of the 2025 season. I was on staff as an assistant, but I did not always see every part of the operation. Stepping into this role, I knew it was important to reconnect with the organization and make sure I had a clear foundation before presenting a vision for 2026.”
This reflection mattered. It allowed him to reenter the organization with curiosity instead of assumption. By listening before leading he gained a real sense of the team’s emotional landscape. That process gave weight to his conversations with returning players and opened the door to an honest shared future. In many ways the most important thing he did early was rebuild alignment between the ownership, the front office, the coaching staff, and the athletes.
For a program seeking stability, that alignment is a turning point.
The Identity He Wants to Build
When Bussberg talks about identity the message is clear and unwavering.
“Compete. We just want the chance to compete.”
Competing, in his view, is a behavior, not a scoreboard outcome. It means body language that communicates belief. It means disciplined preparation even when no one is watching. It means a group that stays connected during adversity. He wants the AlleyCats to create a reputation for resilience and for a style of play that reflects unity rather than individualism. In his view the identity must be lived in the small moments long before it shows up in a big win.
A Culture Carried by Everyone
When asked which returning players, like 2025 statistical leader Seth Gudeman (who signed a 2-year extension), long time scoring leader Cameron Brock (who signed a 2-year agreement) or All-UFA Second Team defender Xavier Payne would anchor the culture, Bussberg refused to elevate one voice above the rest.
He said, “The team is more important than an individual. There is no one player that stands above another.”
This philosophy sets the tone for what the next four years will look like. Leadership becomes a shared responsibility. Veterans mentor without ego. Young players enter an environment where their contributions matter immediately. The result is a roster that feels supported and accountable to something larger than individual performance. That shared ownership becomes the culture.
Offensive Creativity and Defensive Unity
Bussberg’s strategic views flow directly from his cultural values, so these ideas fit best when condensed into a single larger theme.
He believes offense should reflect creativity.
He said, “Offense is a lot like jazz music. There are guidelines and principles but not strict rules. I hope no two offensive points look the same.”
Creativity thrives when trust is strong. Players who believe in one another and believe in the leadership tend to make confident decisions.
He believes defense must reflect unity.
He said, “We will not win as individuals. We will win if we approach defense as a team wide strategy."
Defensive success is not about hero moments but about collective intention.
Together these philosophies reinforce his larger message. When the team supports itself, the system comes alive.
Understanding the Central Division
Bussberg spoke about the Central Division with the respect of someone who has studied it closely and competed inside it. He called it one of the strongest environments in the league and pointed directly to the numbers (wins and fan attendance) that support that claim.
Reflecting on that landscape he said, “We are in one of the most stacked divisions in the league. The Central has some of the hardest environments to play in. The home field advantage is real. There is no easy win on the schedule. There never was.”
He sees Minnesota, Chicago, Madison, and Pittsburgh as programs with strong cultures of their own. For him that is an opportunity. Competing in a division like this forces a team to grow. It sharpens identity. It clarifies strengths. It tests connection. In many ways the division itself becomes part of the AlleyCats development.
To Bussberg's credit, the Central Division has represented the UFA in 7 of the 13 championship games. Over half of the time, the Central Division has a top 2 team in the league, let alone the close games they play inter-division that don't make Championship Weekend.
Defining Success in Year One
Bussberg finished with a message that summarizes his philosophy.
“Success looks like a group of individuals competing collectively. When it becomes about an individual 'me' versus the collective 'we,' the team has lost the internal messaging and will lose when the game matters most.”
For him, year one is about foundation. If the culture strengthens, if the alignment holds, if the players feel unified in purpose, then the results will come in time. He is coaching for the long future just as much as he is coaching for the present.
Looking Ahead
Nathan Bussberg brings a thoughtful and connected approach to Indianapolis. His vision extends beyond the scoreboard and into the daily routines that shape a competitive and resilient team. The AlleyCats now begin a four year journey with a leader who believes in structure, creativity, unity, and purpose. The 2026 season will mark the first chapter, and the values he sets today will help define this program for years to come.
