Griz Greats: The Coaching Tree

Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez talk about what makes this podcast series special and give a few hints about what is to come from the Griz Greats: Coaching Tree Podcast brought to you by Blackfoot Communications. The first full episode will be released on Wednesday, January 15th with Jim Brandenburg, who coached the Grizzlies men's basketball team from 1976 to 1978 and was on legendary college men's basketball coach Jud Heathcote's staff prior to his departure for the University of Wyoming.

*The stat that Colter Nuanez referenced about Stew Morrill's home court dominance at Utah State University isn't quite 97%, but he did compile a 237-27 (.898) record at home in Logan.

Griz Greats: The Coaching Tree is an interview series hosted by Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez from ESPN Missoula. University of Montana basketball has an illustrious reputation for producing some of the best college basketball coaches that the game has ever seen, and it can be traced back to legendary Michigan State head men's basketball coach Jud Heathcote, who got his first college head coaching job at the University of Montana. The coaches that have followed him have gone on to make their own significant marks on college basketball at schools like Stanford, Utah, and Old Dominion to name a few. Two have even been head coaches in the NBA. Ryan and Colter sat down with every Montana head men's basketball coach who followed Jud Heathcote to talk about what makes Montana basketball and Missoula so special. Bonus episodes include interviews with former Montana players and other significant influences on the program. Enjoy this preview of Griz Greats: The Coaching Tree!

The first episode will be released Wednesday, January 15th with Jim Brandenburg, who coached the University of Montana from 1976-1978 and left Missoula to become the head men's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. After that, new episodes will be released every Tuesday evening with bonus episodes dropping on Fridays.

In today’s always-on world, your business demands a simpler approach to network security. At Blackfoot Communications we deliver state-of-the-art security solutions – from the perimeter to end-point devices and remote data backup – for businesses across Montana. Ensure your company’s network is online. All the time.

For more information, visit GoBlackfoot.com/GrizGreats.

Jim Brandenburg was an assistant coach under Lou Rocheleau and Jud Heathcote at the University of Montana from 1970-1976 before taking over the head coaching position. He stayed at the helm for two seasons before departing for the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez talked with Coach Brandenburg about his basketball journey from his playing days at Colorado State to his final head coaching job at San Diego State University.

In today’s always-on world, your business demands a simpler approach to network security. At Blackfoot Communications we deliver state-of-the-art security solutions – from the perimeter to end-point devices and remote data backup – for businesses across Montana. Ensure your company’s network is online. All the time.

For more information, visit GoBlackfoot.com/GrizGreats.

Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez sat down with former Montana Grizzlies Eric Hays and Ben DeMers, who both played under Jud Heathcote and Jim Brandenburg at the University of Montana, to get a player's perspective on what it was like to play for both men. Eric Hays began his college career at Washington State, where Jud Heathcote was an assistant, and followed him to Missoula. Hays scored 32 points against UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen during his senior season, and he also eventually was a graduate assistant under Heathcote at Michigan State before becoming the boy's basketball head coach at Hellgate High School in Missoula (4:24). Ben DeMers was a standout at Sentinel High School in Missoula before continuing on at the University of Montana and playing under Coach Heathcote and Coach Brandenburg when they were the head coach. DeMers was also on that legendary Sweet Sixteen squad and played with Michael Ray Richardson (35:29).

In today’s always-on world, your business demands a simpler approach to network security. At Blackfoot Communications we deliver state-of-the-art security solutions – from the perimeter to end-point devices and remote data backup – for businesses across Montana. Ensure your company’s network is online. All the time.

For more information, visit GoBlackfoot.com/GrizGreats.

Mike Montgomery was an assistant under Jim Brandenburg for two seasons before taking over as the head man in Missoula. Montgomery coached the Griz for eight seasons before leaving for Stanford University in the Pac-10 at the time. ESPN Missoula's Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez spoke with Montgomery about his time in Montana, what it's like to go to a Final Four, how Robin Selvig got hired, and more.