Tad Boyle isn't wasting any time keeping his coaching staff fresh and connected. After longtime assistant Mike Rohn departed for Kansas City, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach has turned to a familiar face—promoting graduate assistant Tyson Gilbert to assistant coach and quality control analyst.

Gilbert, who spent the last two seasons learning the ropes as a grad assistant, brings a youthful energy that Boyle believes is exactly what this program needs. "These past two years I've learned a ton and have been able to just grow as a coach and more importantly as a person," Gilbert said. "I'd like to thank coach Boyle and the entire staff for allowing me to grow. I'm extremely excited for the future in this role."

At just two years removed from his own college playing career, Gilbert joins the staff as one of its youngest voices—a deliberate move by Boyle to bridge the gap with a relatively young roster. "Tyson has a very unique ability to connect with our players, and our players really respond to him," Boyle said in a press release. "Obviously, he's young and can speak their language, so to speak. He's from their era, and he's a guy who's got great energy and just has an infectious personality. He's a guy that you enjoy being around."

A Colorado native from Highlands Ranch, Gilbert split his collegiate playing days between CSU Pueblo and Alaska Anchorage, averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists over a four-year career. That firsthand experience—both on the court and in the locker room—gives him a perspective that resonates with today's players.

For Buffaloes fans, this promotion signals a commitment to developing talent from within, while keeping the coaching staff in tune with the modern game. As the program looks to build on its momentum, having a young, relatable voice like Gilbert on the bench could make all the difference in player development and team chemistry.