Boyle men's hoops coach at Northern Colo.

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GREELEY, Colo., April 26 (UPI) -- Tad Boyle is the new men's basketball coach at Northern Colorado.

Boyle, 43, replaces Craig Rasmusson, who resigned on Feb. 26 to take a position in the school's athletic department as director of athletic development. For the past six seasons, Boyle has been the associate head coach at Wichita State.

The Greeley, Colo.. native inherits a program that was 5-24 last season. The Bears lost their first 14 games last season.

"This is going to be both a tremendous challenge and opportunity for me where I am at in my career right now," Boyle said on the school's Web site. "I have been preparing myself for the last 17 years."

"We are confident that Coach Boyle will make an immediate impact on our men's basketball program and in the community," said Athletic Director Jay Hinrichs. "I want to personally welcome Coach Boyle and Ann back home to Greeley."

Northern Colorado is one of only 10 independent schools in Division I college basketball.