FAIRBANKS – Men’s basketball head coach, Frank Ostanik, has named Tobin Karlberg as his assistant coach. Karlberg joins the Nanooks coaching staff after spending 2023-24 at Lewis-Clark State College.
“When the idea of my getting this job became a reality, there was one guy I wanted as my assistant, and that was Tobin.” Said Coach Ostanik on Karlberg’s hiring, “I’ve traveled and worked with Tobin in the past and he is as hard as a worker as there is. He is known as a great player, but I can tell you definitively, he is a better human being. Tobin saying yes to joining our coaching staff was akin to signing a McDonald’s All-American to play for us. His connection to Alaska, work ethic, and ability to gain the trust of players will play a key role in our success recruiting high-caliber young men as we move forward.”
Karlberg comes to Fairbanks after a year as the assistant coach at LC State, an NAIA program in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). In his lone season in that position, he was responsible for on-court instruction, recruiting, travel itinerary, player development, and fundraising. He assisted the Warriors to a 24-9, 19-3 CCC record. After first and second-round victories in the NAIA Tournament, LC State fell to Evangel (Mo.) in the NAIA Sweet 16, ending their season at the NAIA National Tournament. Before joining the Warriors staff, Karlberg finished his playing career with Point Loma Nazarene University after four years and three seasons with the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. In his three years with UAA, Karlberg earned two GNAC All-Conference honors, two GNAC All-Academic honors, and the 2022 UAA team MVP honor. In his one season at PLNU, Karlberg was a PacWest champion, PacWest All-Conference selection, NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team selection and helped lead the Sea Lions to the NCAA DII Sweet 16 at the NCAA DII West Regional.
The Anchorage native also had a storied high school career, winning the 2017 Alaska Boys Basketball State Championship with Grace Christian School. Alongside winning the state championship, he was a 2017-18 3A Basketball Alaska State Player of the Year and the 2018 Alaska State Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Coach Ostanik on the staff at Alaska!” Said Karlberg, “I have a huge belief in his ability to coach and lead young men with a high level of excellence. Being from Alaska, I see this as an awesome opportunity to love and serve people in my home state using the vehicle of basketball!”
Karlberg has also spent years as a camp coach/counselor and player development coach through NBC Camps, Make Yourself LLC, and basketball team camps.
He graduated with his undergraduate degree in Communication from UAA in the spring of 2022 before earning his master’s degree in Sport Management from Point Loma.
His official first day with the Nanooks is July 1, 2024.
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