New era set as Casper College hires Nick Mirich to help lead Thunderbirds
Casper College announced Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the hiring of Wyoming native Nick Mirich as the new assistant coach for the Thunderbirds’ men’s basketball team ahead of the 2026-2027 season. (Casper College photo)
A new era is set as Casper College announces the hiring of Nick Mirich as assistant men’s basketball coach to help lead the Casper College Thunderbirds for the 2026-2027 season.
“I am excited to welcome Nick Mirich to our program. Nick brings valuable experience as both a player in Region IX and a coach at the Division I and Division II levels,” said Ty Larson, men’s basketball head coach. “As a Wyoming native, he will take tremendous pride in representing Casper College Men’s Basketball at the highest level. Nick has worked alongside some highly respected coaches throughout his career, and his experience, leadership, and competitive mindset will impact winning every day,” he added.
A Cheyenne, Wyoming, native, Mirich comes to Casper College from the University of Texas at Tyler, an NCAA Division II program in the Lone Star Conference. There, he served as an assistant coach from August 2023 to June 2026 under head coach Tim Moser. During his three years with the Patriots, the team improved from an overall record of 3-25 in the 2023-2024 season to 15-11 in the 2025-2026 season.
While at UT Tyler, Mirich noted that he gained comprehensive experience across all aspects of running a collegiate program. In addition to recruiting, player development, scouting, and student-athlete academic success, Mirich helped build a culture of accountability, toughness, and competitiveness. “These experiences have prepared me to contribute immediately to a program like Casper College,” he said.
Before joining UT Tyler, Mirich served as a student assistant for the University of Wyoming men’s basketball team from August 2020 to May 2022, then as a graduate assistant coach from June 2022 through May 2023. Jeff Linder was the Cowboys’ head coach during Mirich’s tenure. “During that time, I was able to observe and contribute to a championship-level environment, gaining valuable insight into the standards, structure, and daily habits required for sustained success,” said Mirich.
Mirich played basketball for two seasons at Eastern Wyoming College, in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. He graduated with an associate degree in business administration. He then transferred to UW, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration.
Mirich, who is originally from Cheyenne, believes that his time as a player at Eastern helped shape his development as both a player and a person, and also gave him what he called “a strong appreciation” for junior college programs and their impact on student-athletes.
“I am passionate about the opportunity to return home and contribute to the continued success of Casper College men’s basketball,” Mirich said.
At A Glance:
* New Hire: Nick Mirich has been named the assistant men’s basketball coach at Casper College.
* Leadership: Mirich joins head coach Ty Larson to lead the Thunderbirds.
- Season Opener: The team begins the 2026-2027 season on Sept. 11 at the Salt Lake Community College Jamboree against Colorado Northwestern Community College.