GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa Head Men's Basketball Coach Ken DeWeese announced the formation of his assistant coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, welcoming Trevor Van Tassel, Eli Scott, and Bowen Born to the Maverick program.
 
"I am extremely excited about the staff we have assembled," DeWeese said. "These three men bring a tremendous combination of playing experience at the highest levels and a passion for developing young people. I believe our players are going to benefit greatly from the knowledge and energy each of them brings to Brownson Arena every single day."
 
Eli Scott will remain on staff after being a part of Mike Dunlap's staff last season at Colorado Mesa and be given the role of Director of Player Development. Scott is a former professional basketball player who most recently played for MBK Handlová of the Slovak Basketball League. He brings elite-level playing experience and a well-known name in collegiate basketball circles to the Maverick program.
 
Scott came to Colorado Mesa after a decorated career at Loyola Marymount University, where he totaled 2,002 points — sixth best in program history — was named to the WCC All-Freshman Team, earned All-WCC honors three times including a First Team selection as a senior, and recorded the first triple-double in LMU program history with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists against Grambling State.
 
Trevor Van Tassel returns to Colorado Mesa University as an assistant coach, holding a bachelor's degree from Colorado Mesa and a master's degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
 
A former Maverick himself, Van Tassel played forward for the Mavericks from 2011 to 2016 before launching a coaching career that has taken him across multiple levels of college basketball. After serving as an assistant at his alma mater from 2016 to 2018, he joined Southeastern Oklahoma State University as a graduate assistant and assistant coach, where the Savage Storm posted back-to-back NCAA Central Region Tournament berths. He then went on to South Plains College in Texas, where his work as an assistant helped the Texans compile a 43-21 record and reach the Sweet 16 of the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament, while guiding 12 players to the Division I level.
 
Van Tassel's deep familiarity with the CMU program and the Grand Junction community, combined with his broad coaching résumé, make him a cornerstone of the new staff.
 
Bowen Born arrives in Grand Junction and will be given the role of Director of Operations  and has one of the most decorated résumés of any player to transition into the coaching ranks at the Division II level. Born played college basketball at Northern Iowa and Colorado State, earning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2020-21 and All-MVC recognition in 2022-23 across a five-year collegiate career.
 
Born was named Mr. Iowa Basketball before his college career, placing him among a list that includes NBA players Harrison Barnes, Kirk Hinrich, and Raef LaFrentz. He was undrafted following the 2025 NBA Draft after completing his final season at Colorado State.
 
Known for his shooting, basketball IQ, and culture-building presence — the CSU coaching staff credited him with transforming the Rams' locker room culture during his lone season in Fort Collins — Born is expected to bring that same energy to the Maverick program.
 
Stay tuned to CMUMavericks.com for the latest news, updates, recaps and more about the Men's Basketball team. Season ticket sales will begin soon.