A familiar face will once again roam the sidelines of the CU Events Center.
Former Colorado point guard and Pac-12 Conference champion Nate Tomlinson is returning to Boulder as an assistant coach/director of player development, Buffaloes’ head men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle announced on Friday.
This will be Tomlinson’s second stint on the Colorado bench, serving as Colorado’s director of player development for two seasons from 2019-21. He replaces Zach Ruebesam, who moved on to become the head coach at CSU Pueblo.
“My family and I are so excited to be back,” Tomlinson said. “This is home. Let’s get back to work!”
After his second season as a full-time assistant, which ended in an NCAA Tournament appearance for the Buffaloes in 2021, he joined former CU assistant Kim English’s staff at George Mason, where he was an assistant for two seasons (2021-23). Tomlinson followed English to Providence in 2023, where they enjoyed a 21-win season in their initial campaign on the Friars’ bench.
“Super excited to welcome back to Boulder one of our own,” said Derrick White, former All-Pac-12 Buff (2016-17) and NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics in 2024. “Nate has always been great to be around and his knowledge of the game is high level. Love having former Buffs coaching future Buffs!”
Tomlinson was a four-year letter winner for the Buffaloes from 2008-12, averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 assists and just under one steal in 129 career games. He helped the Buffaloes claim the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament title in 2012, leading to the program’s first NCAA Tournament in nine years.
Colorado made a pair of postseason appearances during Tomlinson’s career. The Buffaloes set a then-school record with 24 wins in 2010-11, culminating with a semifinal appearance in the 2011 NIT. Tomlinson was a part of 74 wins as a Buffalo, which at the time was the best in school history.
“I am very excited for the rehire of Nate to the program,” said Alec Burks, 14-year NBA veteran and teammate of Tomlinson from 2009-11. “I think he bleeds black and gold more than anyone one I can think of. He was one of the best college teammates I had during my time in Boulder and there is no doubt that he will be an even better head coach one day. Wish him nothing but the best on this new coaching journey. Go Buffs!”
Tomlinson is tied with Donnie Boyce for seventh in career assists (406), also holding that position in career games started (112) while ranking ninth in games played (129).
“In the 15 years I’ve been here, two of the greatest Buffs we’ve had are on our staff now, with Evan Battey and now with Nate coming back,” Boyle said. “To bring him back to Buff Nation along with his family, Rebecah (a former CU volleyball student-athlete) and their three daughters, just warms my heart. He’s got ‘sweat equity’ in this program as a player and a coach. We’re really lucky to have him because he’s a heck of a basketball coach, recruiter, communicator and relationship builder. And he’s going to be a great head coach someday too.”
After graduating in 2012, he played professionally for six seasons for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League in his native Australia. Following his playing career, he joined the basketball staff at Shantou University in China, led by his father, Bill, for one season before returning to the United States in 2018.
Tomlinson returned to Boulder, joining Colorado as a coaching intern for the 2018-19 season. He served as head coach of Team Colorado, the school’s alumni squad in The Basketball Tournament, in the summer of 2019, guiding the Buffs to the second round.
