New Season, New Vision: Q&A With DU Men’s Basketball Coach Tim Bergstraser
The first-year head coach shares his take on life in şÚÁĎĂĹ, his goals for the program, and what Pioneer fans can expect this season.
The şÚÁĎĂĹ men’s basketball program is entering a new era. Tim Bergstarser, who spent his entire coaching career in Minnesota—including leading Minnesota State Moorhead to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances—has arrived in şÚÁĎĂĹ as the Pioneers’ new head coach. In this conversation, he shares his first impressions of Colorado, his vision for the program, and what fans can expect this season.
How has the move to şÚÁĎĂĹ been for you and your family?
Oh man, it’s amazing. It’s quite the scenery change from Minnesota, where I’ve lived my whole life. Right now, I’m looking out my window at a humongous mountain range. It’s peaceful, it’s happy, and we’re really comfortable here. My family is almost fully settled, and it’s been good to enjoy the city before the chaos hits. Being in a big city has been different but very enjoyable. We’re happy to be here and focused on preparing and growing our team.
You brought four players from your previous program, along with your associate head coach. How has that helped with the transition?
It’s made the move a lot more comfortable. Those guys already know how we operate, and they’re incredible people—great in the classroom, obsessed with basketball, competitive, and they know how to win. But they didn’t come in expecting anything to be handed to them. They’ve worked hard, and the returners and newcomers have joined right along with them. It’s been fun to watch that.
The season tips off Nov. 3, with scrimmages before that. What are you hoping to learn in those first games?
Early on, there’s always a massive curiosity around what's our program going to be—who we are and how we’re going to put all the pieces together. Those early games are always a great opportunity to really see where you're at. It will show us what we really have to focus on and where we can tighten things up, and help with our decision-making as a staff as we prepare for a very tough non-conference schedule.
What kind of basketball should DU fans expect from your team?
Disciplined basketball—on both sides of the floor. We’ll compete at a very high level, play tough and hard, and most importantly, play together. No selfishness, just guys playing so stinking hard for each other. And I think that's what anybody would want to watch.
Discipline seems central to your coaching philosophy. How do you instill that in players?
Our players know that we care. Discipline is like a different form of love. It means bringing it every day—even when you’re not ready for a tough practice—because the guy next to you needs you to have his back. And I think if you're a disciplined program, it gives you an opportunity and a chance to win basketball games.
What’s your message to potential recruits looking at şÚÁĎĂĹ?
DU is a big deal. There’s a lot to do here, and our campus has a real “wow” factor. The basketball program hasn’t always had the recognition it deserves, but we’re changing that. Recruits who come here will find staff that takes care of them, challenges them, and helps them transform as players. They’ll have the opportunity to fight for championships, win, put up numbers and play, and be a part of what we're building.
Have you had a chance to enjoy Colorado outside of basketball yet?
Absolutely. My wife and I have always loved being outdoors, so hiking’s been a big one for us. Seeing my three-year-old laughing on the trail while carrying our one-year-old on my back was a pretty special moment. We’re trying to use these free weekends before the season starts to experience as much as we can.Ěý
Beyond wins and losses, what does success look like for you in year one?
Representing the program the right way—on and off the court. I want people to see high-class individuals who succeed in the classroom and represent themselves in the community in a tremendous way. On the basketball side, I want us to compete and contend for a championship—but also grow from our first game to our last. If we’re playing our best basketball at the end of the year, that's what really matters to me.
What would you say to fans about coming out to watch DU basketball?
I’m confident people will see a style of play and level of intensity they haven’t seen here before. When fans come, they’ll want to come back. We want the whole city to feel pride in what we’re building. I really believe we’re going to get this thing rolling, and I encourage people to jump on board now.