Three Legendary Coaches
Walter “Bus” Bergman
Bus Bergman was a talented athlete, coach, community leader, and a Bronze Star WWII veteran. At his 1995 induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, he was described as “a man who best personifies athletics in the state of Colorado.” A dynamic three-sport athlete at Denver North High School and Colorado A&M (now CSU), he turned to coaching in 1947 after completing a master’s degree in physical education. Bergman’s coaching career began at Fort Lewis College in Durango, but he soon moved to Grand Junction, which became his home.
From 1950 to 1980, Bergman coached football and baseball at Mesa, winning three conference championships in football and 20 conference titles in baseball. Speaking in 2022 at the dedication of the Bus Bergman Sports Complex — home of CMU’s baseball stadium and track and field facilities — Athletic Director Bryan Rooks described Bergman as “synonymous with Maverick Athletics.” Bergman passed away in 2010 at the age of 89. He is included in the Colorado Sports, CMU, Fort Lewis College, CSU, Denver North High School, and the Junior College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Wayne Nelson
In 2009, just a few months before his passing, Wayne Nelson was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tennis coach of the century. It was a milestone accomplishment for a man who had accomplished much during his life. Originally from Utah, Nelson came to Mesa College in 1955 to coach basketball and tennis. When he retired from coaching basketball in 1973, it was with a winning record, including three conference championships, two regional championships, and two national tournament appearances. Nelson carried on as the men’s tennis coach until his retirement in 1989, winning RMAC titles in 1982 and 1985.
In addition to coaching, Nelson was Mesa’s athletic director for 26 years, starting the process to add women’s sports in 1972 and successfully advocating for new athletic facilities at the college. Another CMU athletic director, Jamie Hamilton, once said of Nelson, “He's a guy who was passionate about student-athletes,” adding that Nelson was known for his integrity. Nelson joined the Maverick Hall of Honor in 1996, and the CMU basketball court was renamed in his honor in 2009.
Jay Tolman
When Coach Jay Tolman came to Mesa College in the 1940s, he coached track and field, football, and basketball. But Tolman had greater ambitions—and a skill set to match. He eventually served as instructor, athletic director, dean of men, dean of students, and vice president of student affairs at Mesa. Upon his death in 1996, The Daily Sentinel remarked that “Tolman has worked in almost every nook and cranny of higher education,” going on to list his many positions and the classes he taught, including physical education, personal and community hygiene, geology, and zoology. In 1955, Tolman was the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) secretary and his brother-in-law, Reed K. Swenson, was the NJCAA president. Together, they launched a study to determine support for a junior college (JUCO) baseball tournament.
After one year in Oklahoma, the JUCO tournament came to Grand Junction in 1959 and found its permanent home. In 1996, Tolman was inducted into the Maverick Hall of Honor. Tolman Hall, a CMU dormitory for first-year students, was named for him in 1986. Tolman’s son, John “Tex” Tolman, played baseball at Mesa College and competed in the 1964 JUCO tournament. In May 2008, the college baseball clubhouse was named in Tex Tolman’s honor, continuing the family legacy.
A Story 100 Years in the Making
Want to learn more about CMU's history? Purchase Colorado Mesa University - A Century of the Maverick Spirit, written by Amber J. D'Ambrosio and Kristen Lummis. The 192-page book chronicles CMU's 100-year journey of growth, resilience, and community impact, celebrating the people and moments that shaped our Maverick history.
CMU's Century Project honors one hundred years of Colorado Mesa University's rich history - celebrating the people, milestones and spirit that have shaped our enduring legacy. As we reflect on this meaningful milestone, proceeds from the commemorative Century Book and events throughout the year will benefit the Century Scholarship, ensuring that future generations of CMU students can continue to grow, learn and carry the CMU legacy forward.