Ron Vlasin
Position: Head Coach (5th season)
College: Northern Colorado, 1967
Ron Vlasin completed his fifth season as the head coach of the University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team in 2005-06. Vlasin has guided the Bears to a 41-42 record in the program's first three years of Division I basketball. In his five seasons, Vlasin has tallied an overall record of 67-71 at UNC. In 2005-06, Vlasin led the Bears to wins over three 2005 WNIT opponents (Illinois, Marquette, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). Illinois and Marquette also made it to the WNIT field in 2006. Northern Colorado had runner-up finishes at the 2005 Wingate Classic in Bozeman, Mont., and the 2005 Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev. The Bears finished with a 13-15 record in 2005-06, their best mark since beginning a full Division I schedule in 2004-05, and were second in the nation in 3-pointers made per game with 8.4. Three Bears players were named to the All-Division I Independent Team, in addition to four Bears being named to the All-Academic Team. In the 2004-05 season, Vlasin guided the Bears to an impressive 9-3 record in the team's last 12 games after starting out 3-13. The season culminated in a runner-up finish at the Division I Independent Tournament in Orem, Utah. Vlasin reached the 600-win plateau in the Bears' 49-44 victory over Texas-Pan American in the semifinals of the tournament. Vlasin tallied 546 prep wins and has notched 54 collegiate victories.
After serving as interim head coach for the 2001-02 season and leading the Bears to a 14-13 record and 10-8 conference mark Vlasin had the interim tag removed from his title on March 5, 2002. He coached his second Bears' team to a 12-16 overall record, a fifth place finish in its final year in the North Central Conference and a berth in the NCC Tournament in 2002-03. That season he helped coach Missy Borell to honorable mention All-American honors. A UNC alumnus, Vlasin is a legendary boys' high school basketball coach in the state of Colorado. Most recently, he coached 12 years at Arapahoe High School in Littleton, where his teams were consistently among the best in the state. His last squad posted an 18-4 mark before falling to Denver East in the state tournament. Prior to arriving at Arapahoe, Vlasin coached the Littleton High School boys' team for nine seasons. He led Littleton to two state championships and one runner-up finish. While at Littleton, he coached future NBA first round draft selection Brooks Thompson. Vlasin began his coaching career at Merino High School in Sterling where he enjoyed tremendous success. He led Merino to seven state titles, including five straight from 1976-80. Vlasin's name can be found scattered throughout the Colorado High School boys' basketball record book. He ranks second all-time in the state in coaching victories with 546. His nine state titles is tops among all coaches with Denver Christian's Dick Katte and Greeley Central's Jim Baggott tied for second with five a piece. He also holds Colorado records for state titles at one school (7, Merino) and consecutive state titles (5, Merino). A two-sport standout at UNC in the mid-60s, Vlasin played three years of basketball under Dr. George Sage and three years of baseball under Pete Butler. Prior to his senior year, he signed a minor league baseball contract in the Texas Rangers' organization. A native of Madrid, Nebraska, Vlasin earned his bachelor's degree from UNC in 1967 and received his master's from Eastern Washington. Vlasin, 62, and his wife, Terry, live in Loveland.
The Vlasin File Year School Record 2001-02 Northern Colorado 14-13 (.519) 2002-03 Northern Colorado 12-16 (.429) 2003-04 Northern Colorado 16-11 (.593) 2004-05 Northern Colorado 12-16 (.429) 2005-06 Northern Colorado 13-15 (.464) Totals 67-71 (.486)
Notes From Vlasin's Career
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