Colfax-Mingo turns boys hoops program over to alum Noring

Nick Noring started talking to longtime Colfax-Mingo boys basketball coach John Borts several months ago about returning to his alma mater to be a part of the Tigerhawk coaching staff.

That was before Borts officially knew retirement was in his future.

Noring would have returned to Colfax-Mingo as an assistant under Bort, but after Borts decided to retire after 35 years in the district, Noring had the chance to take over his former coach’s program.

After the Colfax-Mingo Board of Education unanimously approved the hired Monday, Noring is excited to become the school’s second head coach.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” Noring said. “I’ve been thinking about it a long time now. I am tickled to death to be able to take over the program. Coach Borts and I have talked quite a bit about the position, and it’s great to get to follow in his footsteps.”

Prior to the Noring hire, Borts was the only boys basketball coach in Colfax-Mingo history. Whether Borts decides to stick around and be part of Noring’s coaching staff will be completely up to the man who coached the Tigerhawks for 35 years.

“The door is always open,” Noring said. “He knows that. He hasn’t made a decision yet, but I would be more than happy to have him on my staff with me.”

Colfax-Mingo Athletics Director Bryan Poulter also will retire in June. He spent 33 years in the district. Poulter is confident Noring will be a strong asset to the athletic department no matter what sport he coaches.

“He is very excited to be able to give back to the Colfax-Mingo district,” Poulter said. “This has always been a goal of his, and we are excited that he has that goal. He is young, enthusiastic and well versed. He has a strong background and a lot of basketball experience.”

After Noring graduated from Colfax-Mingo, he played a year of college basketball at Iowa Central Community College before playing his final three years at Grand View University.

He then served one year on the Vikings’ coaching staff as the head JV coach and assistant varsity coach.

After that, former Iowa Hawkeye standout Jeff Horner hired him as an assistant at West Des Moines Valley. Together, they guided the Tigers to two state tournament appearances.

Another former Hawkeye, Jess Settles, lured Noring back into the college game after spending two seasons at Valley. Noring coached under Settles at Iowa Wesleyan for one year before returning to Horner’s staff at Valley.

After one year as an assistant for the Tigers, Noring was given his first shot to be a high school boys head coach. That opportunity came at Southeast Warren where Noring guided the Warhawks to a 2-21 season in his only season.

“I got to work with so many coaches with so many different coaching styles,” said Noring, who is the Colfax-Mingo boys and girls head golf coach and assistant baseball coach. “Because of that, I was able to figure out what style best suits me.”

Tigerhawk fans can expect Noring’s teams to play a hard-nosed defense and an up-tempo offense.

“I want to add a new flair to what Borts was already doing,” Noring said. “My style fits the younger generation and opposing teams and their fans are going to hate playing us.”

Borts went 13-10 in his final year. His last Tigerhawk roster included seniors. Noring, though, doesn’t expect to be a “down” program in his first season. He does bring back two-year starter Jarod Nichols, who averaged 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds per game last season as a sophomore.

“I think we can make an immediate impact,” Noring said. “Some of the SICL coaches I have talked to during the golf season think we’ll be down next year, but I don’t think so. I have high expectations.

“(Nichols) is a phenomenal piece to have back, and I am tickled to death to have him. He’s a tough kid. He’ll be a big asset in my first season.”

Zach Tomas will take over as Colfax-Mingo Activities Director in July. He hasn’t had many conversations with Noring, but if Coach Borts signed off on the hire, that’s all he needed to hear.

“It sounds like he was doing some good things at Southeast Warren,” Tomas said. “I don’t know a lot about basketball, but if John Borts is Ok with it, then I don’t think you can doubt anything. John is one of the best around.”

Poulter was well aware of Borts’ endorsement of Noring, too.

“Coach Borts and I have talked enough times that I knew he supported Nick,” Poulter said. “I didn’t take lightly to his recommendation. I feel good about where John is at with the approval, and indirectly John was involved in the decision.”

The Colfax-Mingo Board of Education also approved Borts’ replacement on Jeff Lietz’s football staff.

The school board approved the hiring of Clint Pudenz to the staff. Pudenz was promoted to a paid position after spending time last year as an unpaid assistant.

Lietz said Pudenz will be the varsity special teams coordinator and a junior varsity coach. He also will assist offensive coordinator Matt Barkalow in signaling in offensive plays.