This summer, Nate Tomlinson is returning home. In more ways than one.
The former Colorado guard and staff member is returning to the Buffaloes, as announced by head men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle on Thursday.
Tomlinson takes the spot vacated by CU alum Zach Ruebesam, who was named the head coach at Division II CSU-Pueblo in April. Tomlinson previously spent two seasons on CU’s staff (2019-20, 2020-21) before taking an assistant coach position at George Mason under former CU assistant Kim English.
“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 in a release. “To bring him back to Buff Nation along with his family, Rebecah (a former CU volleyball player) 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.”
Tomlinson, a native of Australia, played four seasons for the Buffs, spanning the final two seasons of Jeff Bzdelik’s coaching tenure (2008–10) and CU’s first two seasons under Boyle.
Not only will Tomlinson return to the school where he played and began his NCAA coaching career, but he will have an opportunity to return to Australia when the Buffs begin a four-game exhibition tour there next month.
Tomlinson was a senior point guard on the 2011-12 team that won the Pac-12 Conference tournament, and he remains tied for seventh in team history in total assists (405) and 18th in steals (111). Tomlinson also is tied for ninth in games played (129), seventh in starts (112) and eighth in minutes (3,540).
Following his collegiate career, Tomlinson played professionally in Australia before beginning his coaching career working for his father, a career coach, at Shantou University in China. Tomlinson returned to CU ahead of the 2019-20 season, first as a coaching intern before assuming the role of director of player development. During the COVID season of 2020-21, Tomlinson and English, who had left CU to become an assistant at Tennessee, collaborated to not only set up a CU-Volunteers matchup on the fly as a replacement for COVID-canceled games, but they inked a three-game series between the programs.
CU culled some of the program’s NBA stars to offer their praise for Tomlinson, with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White saying, “Nate has always been great to be around and his knowledge of the game is high level. Love having former Buffs coaching future Buffs!” While former CU teammate and NBA veteran Alec Burks added, “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.”
Tomlinson reunited with English for two seasons at George Mason and then followed him to Providence for the past two seasons, with the Friars going 33-34. Providence went 21-14 in 2023-24, reaching the Big East tournament semifinals and the NIT, but endured a disappointing 12-20 campaign this past year.
“My family and I are so excited to be back,” Tomlinson said. “This is home. Let’s get back to work!”
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