He’s one of the best to ever wear a Boise State uniform. Now he’ll help coach the Broncos
Basketball has taken Roberto Bergersen to France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Turkey.
Now it’s bringing him home.
Standing in front of a Hall of Fame plaque bearing his name, Bergersen was introduced as Boise State’s newest men’s basketball assistant coach Monday afternoon at the Allen Noble Hall of Fame.
Bergersen, who played for the Broncos from 1996 to 1999, replaces R-Jay Barsh, who left for a similar position at Florida State.
“This opportunity is incredibly overwhelming,” Bergersen said. “Being able to come back to a place that changed my life is really special. I became a man here in Boise, so coming back is just full-circle for me in every way. This program has made huge leaps and bounds since I’ve been here, and I’m happy to be part of it. This is a dream come true.”
It’s been a quick ascent of the Division I coaching ranks for Bergersen, who co-founded the Treasure Valley-based club basketball program Hoop Dreams, where he coached from 2007 to 2021.
Bergersen spent last season as an assistant at Eastern Washington and previously was the head men’s prep school basketball coach at Kanakuk Link Year Prep in Branson, Missouri, in 2017-18. Even with limited Division I coaching experience, Boise State coach Leon Rice says Bergersen is ready.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to bring Roberto back to Boise State,” Rice said. “He is someone that accomplished a lot throughout his playing career, both collegiately and professionally, but we’re bringing him back to the Blue and Orange because of who he has become as a coach.
“His history of developing talent and his ability to recruit is what makes this such an exciting hire for our program. It just so happens that he’s also one of the greatest players in our program’s history.”
Bergersen was the Big West Conference Player of the Year in 1999 after averaging 22.2 points per game and leading Boise State to the 1998-99 Big West regular-season championship his senior season.
The Boise State Hall of Famer then became a second-round NBA Draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 1999. He played professionally overseas before returning to Boise to suit up for the Idaho Stampede. He led the Stampede to a D-League title in 2008, and they retired his No. 11 jersey in 2014.
Although his playing days are over, Bergersen’s love for the game continues to grow, and fans should expect to see that energy and enthusiasm from him on the Boise State bench.
“I am just a hooper,” Bergersen said. “I’ve been since I was a little boy and I still am now. I hope that these guys will get used to me maybe not being in the office so much and being in that gym, because it just pulls me in.”
Bergersen, 46, and his wife, Rhonda, have three sons — Rylan, Ryzin and Rayzhon.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 4:08 PM.
