Minnesota State University Moorhead head men’s basketball coach Tim Bergstraser has announced that Spenser Bland has been hired as the program’s full-time assistant coach.
Bland is no stranger to the Dragons as he spent three seasons as an assistant with Minnesota State University Moorhead from 2018-2021. During his time as an assistant at MSUM, Bland has helped the Dragons achieve an overall record of 49-29, finishing with a winning record in each season. In the 2020-21 season the Dragons reached the NSIC tournament championship game before qualifying for the NCAA tournament where they advanced to the round of 32. In Bland’s three years at MSUM he watched six players claim All-NSIC honors, including the 2020-21 NSIC newcomer of the year, Lorenzo McGhee.
“The MSUM program is Fired Up to get Spenser back to campus,” Bergstraser said. “Spenser’s work ethic, basketball IQ, competitiveness, recruiting efforts and connection with our current players make him the perfect fit. We’ve had success together on the sideline before and he’s a guy that I have a lot of trust and respect for. It will be a smooth transition as Spenser is a coach who has familiarity within our program and knows how we operate. He’s one who will care about our student-athletes’ success on and off the floor. We are very fortunate to have a high-quality person in the Dragon family again.”
Bland spent the 2021-22 season as the top assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls.
“I couldn’t be more ecstatic to return to MSUM and be a part of this incredible university and community once again,” Bland said. “I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work alongside Coach Bergstraser as a part of his inaugural staff as he leads the Dragon men’s basketball program into a new era. Getting the chance to come back to a place that has done so much for me in my coaching career is special, and something I do not take for granted. Nobody is more ready or deserving of this opportunity than Coach Bergstraser, I cannot wait to eagerly support his vision and plans for Dragon Basketball. We will work tirelessly to build on the foundation and legacy that Coach Walthall has left behind, as well as push the program to new heights.”
Before arriving at MSU Moorhead, Bland was a part of Adidas-sponsored AAU program D1 Minnesota where he served in various coaching roles for the program. In the 2018 AAU season, his team was the top-ranked 16U team for a stretch of the summer. Bland’s team went on to win the coveted Adidas Gauntlet Finale in New York City in July of 2018.
In Bland’s three years with the D1 Minnesota program he worked with and mentored over 20 high school athletes that earned a scholarship to play at the Division-1 level. Those players included two McDonald’s All-Americans, Matthew Hurt (2019) & Dawson Garcia (2020), as well as three eventual NBA players, Tyrell Terry (Memphis Grizzlies), Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets) and Matthew Hurt (Houston Rockets).
Prior to his time in Moorhead, Bland worked for Prep Hoops where he acted as the Director of Grassroots Outreach. While at Prep Hoops, he had primary responsibilities of connecting with AAU programs and coaches around the country in efforts to promote and highlight the teams & athletes.
Bland also has experience coaching at the Class 4A and 3A level in Minnesota. He served on staff at Totino-Grace from 2017-18 and previously was on staff as an assistant coach at Blaine High School during the 2016-17 season. Prior to Blaine, Bland helped coach at his former high school, Heritage Christian Academy in the 2015-16 season.
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Bland earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Media Communication from Bethel University in 2017. He then went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2019.
Spenser and his fiancée, Shannon, reside in Moorhead, MN.
Spenser Bland Named MSUM Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach
