FARGO — While the Bison men's basketball team goes above and beyond to help hundreds of young campers with their basketball skills, Coach Dave Richman is making sure life lessons are being taught as well, with the help of a young coach named Birk Nelsen. It is hard to know who is having more fun: Bison basketball players who are coaching, or the young ballers eager to be NDSU- and NBA-ready. But helping with NDSU's summer basketball camp is Nelsen, a younger coach, team mentor and occasional referee.
He's been part of the team fabric for years. "Hopefully, Birk is learning something from being around our guys and team concepts. And showing up, and working.
But there is a great perspective our guys are learning. Birk battles adversity every day and our guys are learning that perspective. I think sometimes we think things we are going through are tough and in the grand scheme of things, they really aren't tough at all," Richman said.
Richman and his players include Nelsen in everything from summer events to practices and game nights. Since he was little, he has just been part of the team. Players can't get enough of Nelsen.
"I mean, it means a lot to me. Me, personally, growing up, I was that person. So, I know how it feels.
With Birk, he is just one of the guys. He is always around and fun to have around. We love having him," said NDSU men's basketball player Jacari White.
Basketball is in Nelsen's blood. His Dad, Matt, played basketball for NDSU in the late 1980s. "I love N.