At 62 years old, Tad Boyle is preparing for his 16th season as head basketball coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw his team miss the NCAA Tournament, Boyle enters the new season determined to prove that his program still belongs among the nation’s best.
Looking for Smoother Big 12 Transition
Last season was Colorado’s first in the Big 12 Conference, and the transition wasn’t easy. The Buffaloes went just 3-17 in league play, marking the fewest conference wins of Boyle’s coaching career and a last-place finish in the standings. For a program that had grown used to being in the postseason picture, it was a harsh reminder of how deep and competitive the Big 12 can be.
Boyle’s coaching career began in 2006 at Northern Colorado, where he spent four seasons and compiled a 46-66 record while helping turn that program into a winner. In 2010, he was hired by Colorado, where he immediately made an impact. His first season in Boulder ended with 24 wins but no NCAA Tournament bid. Still, it was clear the Buffaloes were trending upward.
Over the next several seasons, Boyle made good on that promise. Colorado reached the NCAA Tournament four times in a five-year stretch, consistently competing near the top of the Pac-12 before last year’s move back into Big 12 play. Despite the program’s success in reaching March Madness, Boyle’s teams have gone just 4-6 in NCAA Tournament games. He’s also taken the Buffs to multiple NIT appearances, where he owns a 6-5 record.
In each of their last two tournament trips, the Buffaloes won their opening game. In 2024, Colorado beat Boise State 60-53 in the First Four before knocking off Florida in an unforgettable 102-100 upset. That remains the last time Florida has lost in the NCAA Tournament. Their run ended in the Round of 32 against Marquette, but it was another sign that Boyle’s teams can compete with anyone when they’re clicking.
A native of Greeley, Colorado, Boyle played his college basketball at Kansas under Ted Owens and Larry Brown. He began his coaching career at Greeley West High School before landing his first Division I assistant job with the Oregon Ducks in 1994.
Boyle enters the 2025-26 season with an overall record of 312-303 at Colorado and 358-369 for his career. He sits just 32 wins away from reaching the 400-win milestone, a number that would further solidify his legacy in Boulder.
Big Season in Boulder
Colorado will open its 2025-26 season at home on Monday, November 3, against Montana State. The Buffaloes’ non-conference slate is favorable, with several home games that should give them a chance to build confidence before Big 12 play begins.
For Boyle, this season is more than just redemption. It’s a chance to prove he can keep Colorado competitive in one of the toughest basketball conferences in the country, and to remind everyone that the Buffaloes still have plenty of fight left under his watch.