When the Mount Vernon girls’ basketball team tries to defend its state title next season, it’ll do so without coach Nate Sanderson, who stepped down last week.
Assistant Ben Knake also resigned, and both resignations were scheduled to be approved by the school board Monday, April 14.
“It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve this program, and I am proud of all we have accomplished on and off the court,” Sanderson wrote in an extensive farewell statement.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many amazing athletes and coaches.”
Sanderson finished 76-24 in his four seasons with the Mustangs, going to state in 2024 and 2025, and winning it all this past March.
He took over a program that was 1-20 the year before he arrived.
“The school district thanks coach Sanderson for his time and contribution to the girls’ basketball program over the past four years and respects his decision to move in a different direction,” Mount Vernon athletics director Matt Thede wrote in a statement.
Sanderson missed one game in January for “an internal matter” He hopes to spend more time with his family in the winter. Sanderson has two kids, ages 7 and 10. He plans stay in the school district.
“While it was basketball that brought us to Mount Vernon, it is the people we found that make it feel like home,” Sanderson wrote.
“We are hopeful to have left the program in a better place, and we are confident that the best is yet to come for this team and our family.”
Sanderson – who won two titles with Springville and coached at Linn-Mar and North Linn before coming to Mount Vernon – didn’t rule out returning to the sidelines in the future.
“Not sure that’ll be anytime soon, but I’ll look for ways to stay in the game,” Sanderson said.“Basketball will always be close to my heart.”
Thede said a search is already underway for Sanderson’s replacement.
“The program is on solid footing. The cupboard is far from bare, and we look forward to seeing all this team will accomplish next season and beyond,” Sanderson wrote.