Army West Point Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach
- Phone:
- 8664
Nick Thorsen is in his sixth season with the Army West Point Men’s Basketball team overall, joining the staff in the summer of 2021. Thorsen was promoted to associate head coach in August of 2025a nd enters his second year in the position during the 2026-27 season.
In his most recent season (2025-26), his first as associate head coach, the Black Knights amassed 11 wins, with six wins coming in non-league play and five coming in Patriot League play.
Army’s six wins outside league play included wins over SUNY Maritime, FDU, Manhattan, Gallaudet, and Binghamton. The slate was highlighted by the team’s 63-60 win over eventual 2026 NCAA Tournament qualifier UMBC.
The team also made program history during non-league play, with the team hosting perennial powerhouse Duke, on November 11, shattering the single-game attendance record with 5,326 fans packing into Christl Arena.
In Patriot League play, the Black Knights’ five wins included a regular season sweep over the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks, the eventual Patriot League Tournament champion and 2026 NCAA Tournament qualifier. Army also added a win at home against Holy Cross and two additional road wins, one against Bucknell and another against Loyola Maryland.
Under his direction, junior guard Ryan Curry also received postseason honors, earning a spot on the Patriot League All-League Third Team and MWBA All-Met Honorable Mention. Junior forward Tate Laczkowski was also named to the CSC Academic All-District team.
Thorsen played a crucial role for the Black Knights in his fourth season on staff, helping coach Army to a 17-16 overall and a 10-8 record in Patriot League play in 2024-25.
The 10-8 finish in Patriot League play tied for the program's best finish in League play in program history. The Black Knights were also the only team in the Patriot League that season to earn a win over a Group of Five school, defeating the UTSA Roadrunners (American Conference), 78-75.
Thorsen helped coach two Patriot League All-League honorees. Jalen Rucker, who was named to the First Team, and Josh Scovens, who named to the Second Team. Jalen Rucker also earned All-American honors, being named on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I North Atlantic All-District First Team, the only player in the Patriot League to receive those honors.
He also helped the 2024-25 squad receive a postseason invite to the Purple College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Then, in the opening round of play, the Black Knights shocked Elon University, defeating the Phoenix, 83-78, breaking the program's 55-year postseason tournament win drought.
In his third season, alongside head coach Kevin Kuwik , the Black Knights earned 10 wins, highlighted by a signature win of the team defeating Navy, capturing the star, as a part of the Army-Navy Star Series in dramatic fashion for the first time since 2020.
He also coached two of Army’s main contributors who were freshman, Josh Scovens and Ryan Curry. Scovens would go on and win the Patriot League’s Rookie of The Year award, while both Scovens and Curry were named on the Patriot League All-Rookie Team
Thorsen played a key role in the success of the Black Knights’ 2022-23 season wherein the Black Knight’s reached 17 victories, the highest total since the squad’s 2015-16 campaign.
His work and development of the Army guards resulted in Patriot League honors for Jalen Rucker, who was named to the All-Patriot League Fiirst Team. Rucker led the league, averaging 14.9 points-per-game. Ethan Roberts was also named the 2022-23 Patriot League Rookie of the Year under Thorsen’s direction.
During his first year on the Army Men’s Basketball coaching staff, Thorsen helped the Black Knights reach 15 victories – marking the first time since 2020 the team achieved that feat – and played a key role in player development.
Josh Caldwell was named 2021-22 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year while Jalen Rucker was named to the All-Patriot League second team after having spent time at USMAPS under Thorsen. During the same season, Caldwell also broke the Black Knights’ record for both Career Steals and Single Season steals.
Serving at USMAPS
Thorsen has been at West Point since 2015, having served as the head men’s basketball coach for the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) for six seasons.
Under his guidance, the team posted an 111-47 mark and picked up six wins over the Naval Academy’s prep school. As head coach, Thorsen’s responsibilities included scheduling, scouting, budget management, and day-to-day team operations.
He helped develop and prepare future Black Knights, oversaw the team’s strength and conditioning program, and monitored his players’ academic progress.
Illustrious Tenure with Penn State Behrend
Prior to moving to West Point, Thorsen served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Penn State Behrend, where he played a key role in the Lions’ success.
During his time as an assistant coach, the Lions posted a 67-18 record, earning two Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) regular season & conference championship titles as well as two NCAA appearances.
Over his three years with the program, he was instrumental in the development and recruiting of one NABC All-District Player, two Great Lakes All-District Players, two AMCC Players of the year, multiple All-Conference First Team players, two Defensive Player of the Years, and two NABC Academic Honors Court players.
As a student-athlete, Thorsen starred for the Lions. From 2008-12, he led the team to an NCAA appearance, an ECAC South championship title, a trio of ECAC Tournament appearances, and a pair of finishes as conference runner-up.
Thorsen was selected to captain the team and saw Penn State Behrend post a 78-35 record over the course of his career, which culminated with his selection as the 2012 Herb Lauffer Leadership Scholarship winner.
Throughout his time as a player and an assistant coach, he additionally coached for the 3 Rivers AAU Club and was a Hoop Group Instructor.
Thorsen has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Penn State Behrend and additionally holds a master’s degree in business administration from the same institution.
Thorsen and his wife Kate have four children, Tatum, Everly, Asher and McKenna. They currently reside in New Windsor, N.Y.
