Placer alum Nate Swesey takes over boys basketball program

For the first time in nearly three decades, Placer High School will have a new boys basketball coach on the bench. Placer named longtime assistant Nate Swesey as its new head coach following an extensive search. Swesey, a Placer alum, has been involved with the program for two decades and spent the last nine years as an assistant under Mark Lee, who retired at the end of the season. "Coach Lee has done such a great job with the program for so many years at all three levels," Swesey said. "We basically run the same base offense, and I've been familiar with these kids for the last few years, too. It really helps it out a lot." Swesey graduated from Placer in 1996 and was a member of Lee's first varsity team. He grew up bleeding green and gold alongside his family and father, Cliff Swesey, who passed away in December 2022. Nate talked about what it meant to him to take over the program he played for and watched his father coach during his childhood, saying, "It's very special. I grew up going to the basketball camp and the Kendall Arnett (Tournament). It means a lot to be able to take over a program that has so much tradition." Swesey wasted no time getting to work, as the Hillmen have begun summer workouts. While he has big shoes to fill, he inherits a good situation with eight returning players from a team that qualified for the CIF NorCal Tournament. Swesey noted the players seemed happy with the hire and were eager to get to work. "It helps that I was coaching and spending a whole year with them already. It goes a long way with this group," Swesey said. "We don't have to change a lot. We got right into the summer routine and there weren't really any hiccups." The Hillmen have been scrimmaging local schools as part of their summer workouts and have become familiar with rivals Bear River, Colfax and Nevada Union. Swesey likes what he has seen from the team so far, noting they seem to have picked up where they left off in March. Asked what his goal is with the program, Swesey said, "I just want to continue the same traditions here. I love the crowd and having the band here. There is no other atmosphere like this gym when it's a packed crowd, and I hope we continue to have the student support and the faculty support. I just want to keep the Placer basketball program moving forward."