ANCHORAGE (Feb. 23) – After 22 years at the helm and more than 375 victories, Alaska Anchorage men's basketball coach Rusty Osborne announced Monday that he will retire from coaching at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

With the most victories in UAA history in any sport and the most in Alaska collegiate basketball history, Osborne has accumulated a 380-242 record since becoming head coach in 2004-05, posting winning records in 17 of the last 20 campaigns. This year's team stands 19-8 heading into its home finales this week (Thur., 5:15 pm vs Western Oregon and Sat., 7:30 pm vs Saint Martin's), with a chance to share the conference title and clinch a bye for the upcoming league tournament.

As the Great Northwest Athletic Conference celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, Osborne's 221 league victories are also No. 1 on that list and 75 more than the next-longest tenured head coach.

 "It is with mixed emotions that I have submitted my letter of resignation as head men's basketball coach at the University of Alaska Anchorage," Osborne said. "I plan to finish this season and remain as coach until a replacement is hired. At that point, I will transition into concentrating on my role as acting senior director of athletics, and helping acting AD Tanya Pont as we transition to new leadership. I want to thank Tanya and Interim Chancellor Cheryl Siemers for all their support these last five months.

"After 35 years, it is time to focus on other responsibilities, specifically extended family. We have some challenges that need more of my attention than this position allows, and I need the flexibility to help navigate them. I will be forever grateful to this team of players and assistant coaches Ashton Pomrehn, Ryan Engebretsen and Evan Hoosier, who have been generous in helping me navigate some of these challenges the past three months. However, it is not fair in the long term for me to continue without a 100 percent commitment to the position. It is time for someone else to take the leadership of this wonderful program."

Since arriving at UAA as an assistant coach in 1991, the Texas native has contributed to 610 Seawolves victories, 11 20-win seasons and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, while helping 45 players advance to the professional ranks.

Osborne's squads made the national tournament for three straight years from 2006-08, winning the GNAC and West Region titles in 2008 and making the NCAA Div. II semifinals behind All-Americans Carl Arts and Luke Cooper. He was named both the GNAC and NCAA West Region Coach of the Year that season as UAA finished 29-6, with three of those losses coming to Div. I teams.

The 2010-11 and 2011-12 teams were also among the best in program history, earning NCAA victories each season and combining to go 47-17, led by 2012 national player-of-the-year Taylor Rohde.

Osborne's 2015-16 and 2016-17 teams each tallied 21 victories and missed playoff appearances by a whisker, featuring All-American guard Suki Wiggs and multiple players who went on to the professional ranks.

After leading the program through the pandemic non-season of 2020-21, Osborne piloted the Seawolves to a 15-9 record and the GNAC Tournament semifinals in the shortened 2021-22 campaign, and got the Seawolves back to the NCAAs in 2024. Led by all-conference guard Tyson Gilbert, that 2023-24 team went 22-11 and advanced to the GNAC tourney final, making one of the top late-season surges in UAA history.

"There are way too many people to thank over the 35 years, but I need to make sure I touch on a few groups," Osborne added. "First and foremost is my family – my wife Staci and our five fabulous kids. No coach can be successful without support and sacrifice from home. I want to thank Harry Larrabee, who first brought me to Alaska, and former head coach Charlie Bruns – both are dear friends in addition to being former bosses. From the community, I'm grateful to Steve and Debbie Nerland, who have supported me from the summer I arrived. Without their friendship and help, I would have never lasted more than a few seasons. I have worked for many wonderful athletic directors – sadly three of them are no longer with us – but Ron Petro, Dr. Steve Cobb and Greg Myford, along with Tim Dillon, Harry Larrabee, Tim McDiffett, Keith Hackett and Ryan Swartwood, were all extremely influential.

"In addition to our current coaching staff, I want to thank Shane Rinner, Bryan Weakley, Ryan Orton and Cameron Turner, my longtime assistants/associate head coaches who all went on to become successful head coaches, and all the other talented assistants we've had along the way. None of our success over the last 22 years could have been accomplished without their hard work and dedication.

"Finally, all the real credit goes to the hundreds of players who chose and committed to our program. From those who were All-Americans to those who played their role quietly every day in practice, they always represented UAA and Alaska with pride. They gave us innumerable good memories and have gone on to success all over the world in their chosen fields. Former Seawolves are doctors, dentists, psychologists, entrepreneurs, counselors, CEO's, teachers, coaches and administrators who help strengthen their communities."

In addition to his on-court success, Osborne's teams have displayed a commitment to academics and community service. The Seawolves have produced 66 Academic All-GNAC honorees during his tenure, including three Academic All-Americans, and regularly contribute an average of 500 community service hours per year.

Beyond UAA, Osborne has also displayed a commitment to his sport, chairing and serving on multiple regional and national committees over the years. From 2018-22 he was on the NCAA Division II National Committee – taking the chair role in his final year of service – following stints on the NCAA West Region committee. He was also a member of the NABC National Congress for 22 years, and served on the NCAA D2 Men's Basketball Coaches Connection and Small College Basketball Hall of Fame committees.

Osborne got his collegiate coaching start under Seawolf Hall-of-Famer Harry Larrabee at Div. I Southwest Texas State, where he spent three seasons on the Bobcats' staff. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in education and earned a master's degree in educational administration two years later from Southwest Texas.

"It has been a privilege to serve at UAA for 22 years as the head coach and 13 as an assistant," Osborne said. "I have loved the program and UAA since that first summer long ago. It has never felt like a job, just a passion to help young men and give back to the community. UAA and Alaska have given me not only employment, but a wife, five kids, three grandchildren and a lifetime of memories. It has taken me to 49 states and many foreign countries, but most importantly it has given me the chance to mentor and build relationships with all the tremendous young men who decided to be Seawolves. I look forward to following and enjoying all the success of future Seawolf teams.

"Dr. Steve Cobb used to say 'It's a Great Day to be a Seawolf,' and I would like to add 'It's been a Great Life being a Seawolf.' "