SF Gate <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mike Montgomery isn't one for nostalgia. He got his first head-coaching job at the University of Montana and met his wife, Sarah, there. He had a good time, made some good friends. "But gosh, it's been 20 years," Montgomery said this week. "I was young and unafraid. Not old and ..." With his usual sarcasm, the Warriors' coach downplayed tonight's return to Missoula, Mont., where Golden State hosts the Clippers in exhibition play. Montgomery insisted there would be no red-carpet welcoming for him, no parade down Main Street. He joked that if someone were to present him with a plaque or banner, that person would do well hanging it in the bathroom. Still, Montgomery's wife traveled to Montana ahead of him and a welcoming reception was planned for him at the school's athletic department Sunday night. Surprise visitors were to include former players Larry Krystkowiak, now the head coach at Montana, and forward Derrick Pope. Like it or not, Montgomery's return is a big deal. "Montana's got a lot of tradition," said Andy Hill, an assistant coach for the men's basketball team. "It's a pretty old-school place as far as that goes." Montgomery served as a Montana assistant for two years before becoming head coach in 1978. He compiled a 154-77 record over the next eight seasons and steered four players into the NBA Draft. Portland took forward John Stroeder in 1980 and Pope in 1983. The Clippers selected guard Marc Glass the next summer and San Antonio plucked Krystkowiak a year later. Football has surpassed basketball as Montana's dominant sport, but Hill credits Montgomery with setting the standard. All of Montgomery's teams had winning records, and the last two advanced to the NIT. After his 1985-86 squad finished 21-11, Stanford came calling. After 18 years at Stanford, the Warriors lured him away. And after one season in Golden State, Montgomery returns to Montana 20 years older and wiser. Tonight's game wasn't scheduled for Montgomery -- the Warriors also played Seattle in Missoula three years ago -- but it doubles as a history-making homecoming. The Adams Center floor finally was replaced this summer, and Montgomery will preside over the first game on the new court. </div> Source
That's a cool thing for the Montanans to do for their old boy. Believe it or not, there are some people out there who DO like basketball! And Montana danced last year after winning the Big Sky tournament.
