The family basketball tradition runs deep, as well as his renowned career as a player in Boise, Idaho.
Seattle area native Roberto Bergersen has joined the Eastern Washington University men’s basketball program as an assistant coach, completing the staff of new head coach David Riley. On May 21, Riley announced the addition of associate head coach Arturo Ormond and assistant Mark Darnall as members of Riley’s first coaching staff.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Eastern family,” said Bergersen.
Bergersen most recently has served the Boise community as director and coach for Hoop Dreams, an AAU all-star basketball program he co-founded in 2007. One of his players was his son Rylan Bergersen, who is now at Eastern after previously playing at BYU and Central Arkansas. Rylan’s former high school teammate is current Eastern point guard Ellis Magnuson, who also played for Hoop Dreams.
Roberto also has experience as a prep school head coach, and that provided another connection to EWU. One of his players was Angelo Allegri, who now plays at Eastern after playing at UNC Greensboro.
After starting his collegiate career at the University of Washington, Bergersen starred at Boise State in the late 1990’s and was the 1999 Big West Conference Player of the Year. He played much of his 11-year professional career in the Continental Basketball Association/NBA D-League for the Idaho Stampede based in Boise. Playing in a total of seven countries, he also played professionally overseas in France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Turkey.
“Roberto’s playing experience, teaching ability and ties to the area will be invaluable for our program,” said Riley. “We look forward to having a second member of the Bergersen family join our Eagle family.”
He was inducted into the BSU Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Idaho Stampede retired his No. 11 jersey in 2014.
Named after Roberto Clemente and raised in Federal Way, Wash., his father, Jack Bergersen, was a legendary player at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, and then played at Washington State. Roberto’s wife, Rhonda, played soccer at the UW.
Roberto Bergersen
First Season
Boise State ’99
With an outstanding family basketball history in the Pacific Northwest, Roberto Bergersen enters his first season at Eastern, where is reunited on the basketball court with his son.
Bergersen comes to Eastern from Boise, Idaho, where he was the co-founder, director and coach for Hoop Dreams, a local AAU all-star travel basketball program. He’s been with that organization since 2007, helping develop 90 boys and girls players to become collegiate players, including 26 at the NCAA Division I level. He also trained and directed 12 coaches per season – a total of 48 coaches in a 14-year span.
One of his players was his son Rylan Bergersen, who is now at Eastern after previously playing at BYU and Central Arkansas. A 6-6 guard who played at Borah High School in Boise, he was twice honored as a third team All-Southland Conference selection. Rylan’s former high school teammate is current Eastern point guard Ellis Magnuson, who also played for Hoop Dreams.
Roberto also spent the 2017-18 season as head coach of Kanakuk Link Year, a prep school in Branson, Mo. The Lions finished the season as national champions in its classification, and produced 12 scholarship athletes. One of his players was Angelo Allegri, who now plays at Eastern after playing at UNC Greensboro.
Roberto was a standout at Boise State University and was a second round NBA draft pick (52nd overall) in 1999 by the Atlanta Hawks. He played much of his 11-year professional career in the Continental Basketball Association/NBA D-League for the Idaho Stampede based in Boise. Playing in a total of seven countries, he also played professionally overseas in France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Turkey.
In 2004, Bergersen was a CBA All-Star and the All-Star Game MVP, and in 2008 helped lead his team to the NBA D-League championship. In addition, he was MVP of the CBA’s rookie game in 2000 and in 2006 was an all-star in the Turkish Basketball League.
Roberto starred at Decatur High School in Federal Way, Wash., then accepted a scholarship from Washington and its new coach Bob Bender. He started for half a season, but then attended Highline Junior College in the Seattle area where he earned his associate’s degree before ending up at BSU.
As a senior All-American, he averaged 20 points a game for the Broncos and was named 1999 Big West Conference Player of the Year. He was first team All-Big Sky in both 1998 and 1999, earned All-District honors in 1999 and was a national finalist for the Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at Boise State in social science in 1999. He was inducted into the BSU Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Idaho Stampede retired his No. 11 jersey in 2014.
Roberto was born Jan. 6, 1976. His father, Jack Bergersen was a legendary 6-8 player at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, and then played at Washington State. He passed away in February of 2020 at the age of 71, and named Roberto after his favorite baseball player, Roberto Clemente.
Besides Rylan, Roberto also has two other sons — Ryzin “Biggie” Bergersen now plays at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. Another son, Rayzhon “Ray Ray” Bergersen, played as a junior at Borah High School in the 2020-21 season.
His wife, Rhonda Bergersen, was a college soccer player at the University of Washington where they met in the 1990’s when Roberto began his collegiate career at UW.
https://goeags.com/news/2021/6/3/mens-basketball-roberto-bergersen-completes-ewu-coaching-staff.aspx
