(Tucson, AZ) Pima Community College Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Tim Larsen will once again have the opportunity to run his own program.
Larsen agreed to become the new head coach of the Eastern Wyoming College Women’s Basketball team, an NJCAA Division I program in Torrington, Wyoming.
Larsen spent the last two seasons on the Aztecs bench helping them earn an NJCAA Southwest District Championship last season and an NJCAA Region I, Division II runner-up plaque this season. They went 25-16 overall with Larsen on staff.
“It just came across the job boards and I took a shot at it,” Larsen said. “Coach Todd (Holthaus) has been unbelievable in encouraging me to get my own program and get my name out there. It hasn’t hit that I got the job. In this profession, you get used to a lot of ‘no’s.’ It’s just the nature of it, everyone is trying to crack in the business. It is just pure excitement and I couldn’t believe it was happening. After my wife, the first person I called was Todd.”
Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball coach Tom Anderson, who is also the Athletic Director, brought his team in for the Pima Holiday Classic last December. In discussing next season’s tournament with Pima men’s basketball coach Brian Peabody, Larsen and the women’s basketball vacancy was a topic of conversation.
Larsen said he was offered the position last Monday and will also be the Fitness Director. The academic programs, the dorms for the student-athletes and the ‘old timely feel’ of the gym, impressed him when he took the tour of the facilities he said. Larsen added that the fitness center overlooks the gym floor.
Graphic courtesy of Pima Women’s Basketball
Larsen said he met his team for the first time over a zoom call the Wednesday after he got the job. The Lancers went 18-12 last season and fell a game short of making the NJCAA Division I Tournament. He said nine of their 11 players are international.
“I got to hear their experience and how much they’ve enjoyed being at Eastern Wyoming, and I’m excited to join their journey,” Larsen said. “I asked ‘what do you want out of your sophomore year?’ My job is to do what I can. They’ve set their goals; they want to be in contention to be a nationally ranked team and go to nationals. The players have set the bar high and I just want to do whatever I can to help them get there.”
Larsen was the Assistant Athletic Director and Associate Head Coach of the Tohono O’odham Community College Men’s Basketball Team from 2017-2020. He was also the inaugural Head Women’s Basketball Coach for the Jegos from 2012-2015 and spent time as the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach from 2011-2012. Before his time at Tohono O’odham, Larsen was the Catalina Foothills JV Boys Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach from 2009-2011.
“I couldn’t be happier for Tim and his family for the opportunity he’s getting at Eastern Wyoming College. Tim’s a great young coach that has earned this opportunity through hard work,” Pima women’s basketball head coach Todd Holthaus said. “He’s been great for us at Pima, and for the ladies that had the opportunity to be coached by him. I’m grateful for all the things he did for our program and also grateful to him for coaching my own daughters with the Tucson Rattlers.
“Eastern Wyoming College is getting an energetic, knowledgeable and hard-working coach that will bring them a lot of success. I wish him the best of luck and am proud of him.”
Larsen had most recently been the head coach of the Tucson Rattler U17 Club Team since 2019. The Tucson Rattlers was launched by Chris Klassen, another former assistant coach of Todd Holthaus. Klassen just finished his second season with the SUNY Canton Women’s Basketball program, an NCAA Division III school in Canton, New York.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for all the coaches who’ve helped me along the way,” Larsen added. “Michael Steward hounded me to come coach at Catalina Foothills. I got hired by Matt Vargas (at Tohono O’odham Community College) and I’m grateful to him for letting me start the women’s program in 2012. I will always be grateful on how tough on me he was as the AD.
“After I left TOCC, I can’t thank Todd and (Chris) Klassen enough, and the Rattlers, helping (Klassen) build the 16U team and Todd for bringing me to Pima. The support I’ve got throughout the start of my coaching career to now, I’m definitely blessed.”
Larsen will start on June 6 and looks to continue the international recruiting tour and utilize his contacts in Texas.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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