Tyler Ojanen was named an assistant coach on the NAU men's basketball staff on June 17, 2019. Since arriving in Flagstaff, Ojanen has twice been named to Silver Waves Media's Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistant Coaches list.

Ojanen, who works primarily with NAU's post players, has been instrumental in the development of Carson Towt, who during the 2021-22 season posted one of the top rebounding seasons in program history. Towt recorded 280 rebounds, the sixth-highest single-season total in program history and second-most in 60 years, while ranking 35th nationally in the country in rebounds per game (8.8) and 39th in total rebounds (280). Towt, who also led the team with 119 assists, also became just the second Lumberjack ever to record a triple-double (10 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists).

With Ojanen's guidance, Brooks DeBisschop ended his career on a high note averaging career-highs of 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game during the 2019-20 season. DeBisschop, who also earned NAU's Golden Eagle Top Male Scholar-Athlete and Big Sky Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earned All-Big Sky Third Team honors on the court and was a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American in the classroom. He went on to sign professionally in Belarus for BC Borisfen.
 
Ojanen headed to NAU after serving for one year as the Assistant Athletic Director of Men's Basketball at Saint Mary's College, which marked his second stint with the Gaels. Prior to his administrative role at St. Mary's, Ojanen was an assistant coach on the men's basketball staff at San Jose State for three seasons (2014-17). The Spartans improved dramatically during Ojanen's tenure as they improved their victory total seven-fold from his initial to final season in San Jose.
 
In Ojanen's final season at San Jose State, the Spartans posted their highest Mountain West Conference victory total since 2010-11 and the seven conference wins were the most for the program since 1996.

Ojanen's first stint at Saint Mary's College was 2008-13 when he served as video coordinator during his initial season before being promoted to Director of Basketball Operations, a position he held for four seasons. During his time at Saint Mary’s, the program won three West Coast Conference championships and made four trips to the NCAA Tournament topped off by an appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2010.
  
Ojanen, who got his coaching career started at Cortez High School in Phoenix from 2005-08 as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach, also spent one season at Cal State East Bay as an assistant coach in 2013-14. 
 
A 2004 graduate of California Baptist University, Ojanen earned a degree in history and was an Academic All-American in 2003. A two-year starting guard for the Lancers, Ojanen left as the program's all-time leader in career and single season free throw percentage and eighth in career assists per game. Prior to his time at California Baptist, he competed at Phoenix College (2000-02) where he was a two-year starter.
 
Ojanen is married to his wife, Kristi, and they have four kids, Jarren, Mitchell, Eliott and Kamden.