Nate Tomlinson admits it. Even though his own father is an accomplished coach back in his native Australia, itap Tad Boyle who has influenced much of Tomlinson’s basketball philosophies.
Yet at some point, every young coach has to leave the nest. Or in this case, the herd. Tomlinson did. But now he’s back home.
With a new generation of young players to work with, Tomlinson has returned to his basketball roots as an assistant at Colorado under Boyle. The Buffaloes tip off their 16th season under Boyle against Montana State on Monday at the CU Events Center (7 p.m., ESPN+).
When Tomlinson left Boyle’s staff in 2021, the Buffs were coming off an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He returns to a CU program coming off just the eighth 20-loss season (14-21) in team history hoping a new crop of talented young prospects can eventually lead the Buffs back into the NCAA Tournament picture.
Tomlinson was part of the previous 20-loss season in Boulder, with his freshman team of 2008-09 finishing 9-22. By the time his collegiate career was done, the Buffs were conference tournament champs and making regular NCAA Tournament appearances.
After four seasons away, Tomlinson hopes to be part of a similar turnaround.
“It feels almost like I never left, other than a couple more gray hairs,” Tomlinson said. “But this is home, so it feels good. Coach Boyle was very supportive of me kind of spreading my wings, so to speak. Obviously playing for him for two years and then coaching under him for three years, a lot of my basketball philosophies are from him. I felt like it was important to go out and branch out and kind of learn new things. I think as coaches itap our job to go out and continuously learn and pick up some new things.”
Following a professional playing career in Australia, Tomlinson began his collegiate coaching career by returning to CU as an intern for the 2018-19 season. The next year Tomlinson was promoted to director of player development, a post he held for two seasons.
Following the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Tomlinson joined the staff at George Mason under former CU assistant Kim English. Tomlinson then followed English to Providence for two seasons before returning to Colorado earlier this year.
Tomlinson remains tied for seventh with Donnie Boyce on CU’s career assists list (405) and is 18th in career steals (118). He played a pivotal role in the development of former CU point guard McKinley Wright IV, who sits atop that career assists list, and Tomlinson has a pair of newcomers to work with at the point in UC Riverside transfer Barrington Hargress and freshman Isaiah Johnson.
Tomlinson was able to embrace new challenges during his years at George Mason and Providence, and he covered recruiting territory thatap not usually cultivated by the Buffs. He believes he returns as a more well-rounded coach.
CU’s early-season slate includes a visit from English and his Providence Friars on Nov. 14.
“When I was here (before), I was more player development and behind the scenes. Scouting and those sorts of things,” Tomlinson said. “(Boyle) always let me have a voice, but working for Kim, I was basically his right-hand guy and was forced to make decisions. The experience aspect, and then recruiting as well, which was huge.
“I needed to step out and go do that. And in a different part of the country that I’d never really been to before as well. Building those relationships along the East Coast was invaluable.”
