In fall of 2011, two Western Slope teens, Nathan Terrin and Thomas Powers, arrived at Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) with hoop dreams.
Though the pair grew up only 40 miles apart, they had never met until they donned red and black to play for the Spartans in Hefley Gym. Fast forward eight years and the two stand on the same court, this time as the coaching staff of the team that brought them together.
Nathan Terrin, originally from Parachute, felt right at home when he arrived in Rangely in 2011. “I grew up in a small town, so it was no big shock to me to come here,” said Terrin. “I had goals and spent my time in classes and shooting around in the gym.”
Once he graduated from CNCC with an Associate of Arts degree, Terrin spent a semester at Doane College majoring in biology, but found it was not a good fit for him. He transferred to Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and kinesiology. This August, Terrin will complete a master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration through Concordia Irvine.
During his last semester at CMU, he participated in an internship with former Spartan Men’s Basketball Head Coach Adrian Hayes, which led to an assistant coach position in Sept. 2016. When Hayes left the Spartan coaching staff to return to California this fall, Terrin stepped up to take the helm.
Enter Thomas Powers, who traveled up Hwy 139 from Grand Junction to play for the Spartans in 2011. Even coming from a larger city to Rangely, Powers felt the step up in responsibility and pride. “It is a big thing, representing a school and a community and being a part of a team at that level,” explained Powers.
