MOORHEAD — Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Tim Bergstraser is a top candidate for the men’s basketball head coaching job at Denver University.
Multiple sources indicate to The Forum that Bergstraser has drawn the interest of the NCAA Division I school, a member of the Summit League, which is looking to replace Jeff Wulbrun, who left the Pioneers after four seasons.
Bergstraser just completed his third season at MSUM, leading the Dragons to the Division II national tournament for the third time. He averaged 25 victories per season with a record of 75-22 and directed MSUM to two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament championships. The Dragons advanced to the D-II Central Region championship this past season.
Denver’s athletic director is Josh Berlo, who spent nine years with the same job at NSIC member Minnesota Duluth.
It was reported UMD coach Justin Wieck was a candidate for the Pioneers job, but earlier this week signed a four-year extension with the Bulldogs.
Bergstraser and Wieck were assistant coaches at MSUM under Chad Walthall. He retired after the 2021-22 season and Bergstraser took over.
Walthall built the Dragons into a top Division II program during his 12 seasons and Bergstraser continued MSUM on that path. The Dragons briefly attained the No. 1 ranking in Division II during the 2023-24 season, a first for the program.
Denver went 11-21 this season, finishing tied for sixth place in the Summit League at 5-11. Wulbrun had a 54-76 record in four years, never attaining a winning record in the confernce or overall. The Pioneers’ best season in the league under Wulbrun was finishing tied for sixth twice.
Wulbrun was placed on leave in early March for the remainder of the season. He was replaced on an interim basis by assistant Shammon Williams. Denver, a private university, gave no reason for Wulbrun’s leave.
Wulbrun and Denver “mutually agreed to part ways” after the season, according to the university.
North Dakota State is also a member of the Summit League.
Mike McFeely is a columnist for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. He began working for The Forum in the 1980s while he was a student studying journalism at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He’s been with The Forum full time since 1990, minus a six-year hiatus when he hosted a local radio talk-show.
