In his day, Tad Boyle was the Chauncey Billups of Greeley Central. The 1981 state high school player of the year had savvy and skills light years ahead of his competition.
Greeley’s favorite son, in his second year as Northern Colorado’s coach, is now making a name for himself on the sideline. In a dismal year for Front Range basketball, UNC’s progress is one bright spot.
In UNC’s second year in the Big Sky, it improved from two to six league wins and four to 13 victories overall. Boyle’s largely ignored Bears trounced hapless Colorado State at home, after which fans rushed the court. After UNC stunned San Diego State in San Diego, Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said, “I thought we’d never win another game.”
Boyle admitted it was thrill to beat a coach with a national championship ring, but added: “His players probably overlooked us. I’m pleased where we are in two years but I’m far from satisfied. We beat San Diego State at San Diego but we lost at Sacramento State. The consistency is not there yet.”
While every Division I coach in Colorado faces major obstacles, starting with a lack of tradition and a poor recruiting base in a forgotten time zone, Boyle may have the toughest assignment of all at a school strapped for funds, fans and exposure.
Jabril Banks, UNC’s leading scorer and rebounder, said he never heard of UNC when he played at George Washington.
“He’s done an unbelievable job from what he started with,” said Randy Rahe, coach of Big Sky rival Weber State. “With the talent he’s brought in, that program is going out the roof. He’s doing a great job and he wants local kids.”
Which is something of a catch when Boyle recruits the state. Like many Colorado prep stars before and since, he left to play college ball. At Kansas, he captained a Larry Brown-coached NCAA Tournament team as a senior. When the Jayhawks played in Boulder, he was booed every time he touched the ball.
“It showed they remembered. It was a backhanded compliment,” Boyle said. “I consider myself fortunate to be part of Kansas history. I played in two NCAA Tournaments and had a Hall of Fame coach.”
Boyle is now banking part of his future as a coach on attracting in-state talent.
“I see the state getting better with more population growth and more players and more Division I opportunities within the state that will allow us to keep more Colorado players at home,” he said.
Banks is confident UNC is on the rise.
“Coach is recruiting really good players who care about the game. It’s all about chemistry and character.”
