Gary Colson

Gary Colson is one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I history with 563 wins. While compiling over 36 years of basketball experience, his basketball career highlights an impressive tenure at the University of New Mexico, achieving some of his greatest professional and personal accomplishments as a collegiate head coach.

Colson began his career with New Mexico in 1981, taking over a team in need of guidance, support and restructuring. His stint began in the harbor of Marina del Rey in Southern California. After reading a story in the local paper about the turmoil happening at the University of New Mexico, Colson told one of his friends that he had a feeling that he was about to receive a call that would change his life. Within an hour, he received that call from long-time friend John Bridgers, the University of New Mexico athletics director. The next day, Colson traded in the Marina waters for the New Mexico sun.

Colson joined the Lobos not as a coach, but as a recruiter, friend and supporter. He spent his first season learning, studying and patiently waiting to jump into his role as head coach. In 1981, he took to the sidelines, guiding a team of walk-ons and hopefuls through the season.

By his fourth season, the fog lifted and the haze disappeared. UNM went 24-11 in 1983-84 to earn the Western Athletic Conference coach of the year honors. He had taken a team of managers, holdovers and rookies to the top of their game. Several of his players during his eight-year career at the UNM were drafted to the NBA with Luc Longley at the top of that list.

Colson left the team in 1988 as the second-winningest coach in school history. In eight seasons, he accomplished more than records, wins and upsets. He earned the trust of colleagues, players, coaches and the NCAA. He made winners into believers and believers into winners.