Tad Boyle was hired as the 17th coach in University of Northern Colorado men's basketball history on April 25, 2006.

And he's been hard at work building the Bears into a top-notch NCAA Division I program ever since.

A Greeley native, Boyle spent the six seasons prior to his arrival at Northern Colorado at Wichita State University, helping turn the Shockers into arguably the nation's best midmajor program, alongside head coach Mark Turgeon, a longtime friend and now head coach at Texas A&M.

"I am humbled and honored to be the next head basketball coach at the University of Northern Colorado," Boyle said at his introductory press conference. "This is going to be both a tremendous challenge and opportunity for me and where I am at in my career. I have been preparing myself for the last 17 years for this opportunity. I really appreciate (Director of Athletics) Jay Hinrichs and (Northern Colorado) President Kay Norton for believing in me and giving me this chance."

In his first year as Bears coach, Boyle was charged with turning around a program that had had minimal success for much of the past decade as it was reclassifying to the Division I level and was just beginning its first season as a member of the Big Sky Conference.

Northern Colorado finished just 4-24 in Boyle's first season, but flashes of what was to come were in full view: The Bears almost took down Big 12-team Colorado (they lost 88-86) in early December and then almost shocked Mountain West-team and instate rival Colorado State (they lost 75-66) the very next game.

In year two, it was a whole new ballgame.

Northern Colorado finished that year 13-16 -- its most wins since claiming 14 victories during the 2001-02 season -- and collected victories against Colorado State (72-59) and top 50-RPI team San Diego State (72-59).

It's all resulted in quite a buzz around Boyle's Northern Colorado program, in general, and the 2008-09 team, specifically.

"I really like where the program is headed," Boyle says. "We've made some definite strides in the past few years in the areas of recruiting, player development and facilities improvement, and that's only going to continue. It's a great time to be a Bear."

Boyle came to Northern Colorado on the heels of one of the best seasons in Wichita State history. The Shockers finished 26-9 in 2005-06 and Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champions with a 14-4 MVC mark. The program later advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 by knocking off Seton Hall (86-66) and Tennessee (80-73), marking the school's first regional semifinal appearance since 1981.

Wichita State eventually lost to Final Four-Cinderella George Mason, 63-55, in the regional semifinal that season, but the Shockers finished the season ranked No. 21 in the nation.

"My time at Wichita State was a great six years in my life," Boyle says. "Going into the rebuilding situation and going through all the growing pains we went through -- including winning nine games the first year -- to six years later being in the Sweet 16 and having that type of season was, professionally, the best accomplishment I have been a part of. It was a tremendous feeling to rebuild a program from the bottom to the top."

Boyle played collegiately at Kansas (1981-85) and for legendary coach Larry Brown. He was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams (1984, 1985) and was part of the 1984 Big Eight Tournament championship squad. As a senior, Boyle captained the Jayhawks, which featured freshman Danny Manning.

"To be a part of a program with such a storied tradition and feel like you were a part of that for four years was pretty special," Boyle says. "The friendships and relationships I built in those four years are still with me today. That's what I like most about coaching and want to relay to all my players. The chance to develop relationships and friendships while playing college basketball is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

It was at Kansas that Boyle played alongside Turgeon, whom he also coached with at Oregon under Jerry Green. Boyle's first collegiate coaching job in 1994 was on Green's Ducks staff, where he spent three seasons and helped coach a 1995 NCAA Tournament team and a 1997 NIT squad. Then, in 1997, Boyle followed Green to Tennessee, where he was director of basketball operations. The Vols won 20 games that season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Boyle then reconnected with Turgeon the following year, this time as an assistant coach at Jacksonville State (Ala.), where they helped turn a team that was 8-18 into a 17-11 squad the following year.

Before heading to Kansas, Boyle was a standout performer at Greeley Central High School, where he led the Wildcats to a state championship as a senior in 1981 and earned Colorado Player of the Year honors as well as being selected to the Converse All-American team.

Boyle, who earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Kansas in 1985, is married to the former Ann Schell of Greeley. They have two sons, Jack and Pete, and a daughter, Claire.

Tad Boyle's collegiate coaching resume

Year	School	Record	Highlights
1994-95	Oregon (AC)	19-9 (.679)	NCAA Tournament; 11-7 in Pac-10
1995-96	Oregon (AC)	16-13 (.551)
1996-97	Oregon (AC)	17-11 (.607)	NIT Tournament
1997-98	Tennessee (Dir. BO)	20-9 (.690)	NCAA Tournament
1998-99	Jacksonville St. (AC)	8-18 (.308)
1999-00	Jacksonville St. (AC)	17-11 (.607)	12-6 in TAAC
2000-01	Wichita State (AC)	9-19 (.321)
2001-02	Wichita State (AC)	15-15 (.500)	9-9 in MVC
2002-03	Wichita State (AC)	18-12 (.600)	NIT Tournament; 12-6 in MVC
2003-04	Wichita State (AC)	21-11 (.656)	NIT Tournament; 12-6 in MVC
2004-05	Wichita State (AC)	22-10 (.688)	NIT 3rd Round; 12-6 in MVC
2005-06	Wichita State (AC)	26-9 (.743)	NCAA Sweet 16; MVC Reg. Season Champions (14-4)
2006-07	Northern Colorado (HC)	4-24 (.143)	Bears' first year in Big Sky Conference
2007-08	Northern Colorado (HC)	13-16 (.448)	Defeated San Diego State (top-50 RPI)
2008-09	Northern Colorado (HC)	14-18 (.438)	Qualified for first Big Sky Conference tournament

The Boyles: Ann, from left, Pete, Claire, Jack and Tad.