MBBALL Lou Rocheleau

[CopperGold14]

Lou "Rock" Rocheleau has been mostly forgotten in Montana basketball discussions. I don't claim to know that much about his legendary career other than the incredible run he had with the great Sentinel or MCHS teams from the Mike Lewis era where they ran off a 56 game win streak. As far as Montana high school basketball coaches, he has got to be on the Mt. Rushmore.

Rocheleau coached the Griz men for a few years in the late 60's as an assistant before taking the team for one season and then resigning. This led to the Jud Heathcoate era that more or less started the incredibly successful run of coaches in a tree that includes Brandenburg, Montgomery, Morrill, Taylor, Holst, Krystkowiak, Tinkle and Decuire. The lone coach that UM hired outside of the circle was Pat Kennedy.

Rocheleau had Brandenburg on his staff for that one year in 70-71, so you could make the argument that he belongs in the tree of great coaches as well.

 

[717s7e]

I had forgotten that Rocheleau had been the coach prior to Jud - I also forgot that Jud inherilted Brandenberg from the prior staff. Those were the good old days when we either hired an in-state high school coach or at least had one on the staff.

 

[wyomingriz]

Lou "Rock" Rocheleau has been mostly forgotten in Montana basketball discussions. I don't claim to know that much about his legendary career other than the incredible run he had with the great Sentinel or MCHS teams from the Mike Lewis era where they ran off a 56 game win streak. As far as Montana high school basketball coaches, he has got to be on the Mt. Rushmore.

Rocheleau coached the Griz men for a few years in the late 60's as an assistant before taking the team for one season and then resigning. This led to the Jud Heathcoate era that more or less started the incredibly successful run of coaches in a tree that includes Brandenburg, Montgomery, Morrill, Taylor, Holst, Krystkowiak, Tinkle and Decuire. The lone coach that UM hired outside of the circle was Pat Kennedy.

Rocheleau had Brandenburg on his staff for that one year in 70-71, so you could make the argument that he belongs in the tree of great coaches as well.

Rushmore is a stretch, maybe you are a little biased. Are you a Rocheleau? You could maybe argue top 20. You also can’t make the argument of coaching trees, he didn’t start any coaching trees nor was he the product of one. Get with the progrum Coppergold

 

[CopperGold14]

Rushmore is a stretch, maybe you are a little biased. Are you a Rocheleau? You could maybe argue top 20. You also can’t make the argument of coaching trees, he didn’t start any coaching trees nor was he the product of one. Get with the progrum Coppergold

I’m the furthest thing in the world from being a Frenchman, Wyoming. But name me another coach in this state who did what he did in high school- I don’t think anyone even comes close to him.

I’d put him on the Missoula Mt. Rushmore of basketball coaches - Rocheleau, Luoma, Hays, and I can’t think of a 4th.

 

[Griz in Texas]

I’m the furthest thing in the world from being a Frenchman, Wyoming. But name me another coach in this state who did what he did in high school- I don’t think anyone even comes close to him.

I’d put him on the Missoula Mt. Rushmore of basketball coaches - Rocheleau, Luoma, Hays, and I can’t think of a 4th.

Blain Taylor, maybe, at Loyola. Not sure if he won a title, I went to Flathead and saw more than enough of Luoma and Hays though.

 

[MTbest]

Lou "Rock" Rocheleau has been mostly forgotten in Montana basketball discussions. I don't claim to know that much about his legendary career other than the incredible run he had with the great Sentinel or MCHS teams from the Mike Lewis era where they ran off a 56 game win streak. As far as Montana high school basketball coaches, he has got to be on the Mt. Rushmore.

Rocheleau coached the Griz men for a few years in the late 60's as an assistant before taking the team for one season and then resigning. This led to the Jud Heathcoate era that more or less started the incredibly successful run of coaches in a tree that includes Brandenburg, Montgomery, Morrill, Taylor, Holst, Krystkowiak, Tinkle and Decuire. The lone coach that UM hired outside of the circle was Pat Kennedy.

Rocheleau had Brandenburg on his staff for that one year in 70-71, so you could make the argument that he belongs in the tree of great coaches as well.

Not a lot of content on this site, but it is at least some recognition: https://montanacoaches.com/archives/project-items/rocheleau-lou Here is also an obit, for those of whom have access, looks like he was the Recreation Director at the Trapper Creek Job Corps in the Bitterroot at the time of his death. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/239113628/