Montana Head Coach 1976-1978 Jim Brandenburg

01/16/20 • 46 min

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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.

For more information, visit GoBlackfoot.com/GrizGreats.

Previous Episode

Griz Greats: The Coaching Tree Why You Should Listen

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.

Next Episode

Bonus: Eric Hays + Ben DeMers

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).