COACH “K” TO STAY AT UM\WITHDRAWS FROM PEPPERDINE CONSIDERATION
State, Local, Web 4/17/06-dg MISSOULA –
University of Montana men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak has decided to withdraw from consideration for the vacant Pepperdine University coaching position and will remain at the helm of the Grizzly basketball program, according to UM Athletic Director Jim O’Day.
In a statement released Monday by UM, Krystkowiak weighed his options over the weekend before making his final decision to remain in Missoula. He was one of four finalists for the Pepperdine job, which opened when coach Paul Westphal’s contract was not renewed.
Krystkowiak recently finished his second year as head coach at his alma mater where his teams have gone 42-20 overall and 19-9 in Big Sky Conference games. During his tenure, Coach K’s Grizzlies have won two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles, earning two consecutive NCAA berths.
Last month, 12-seeded Montana advanced into the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with an 87-79 first-round victory over No. 5-seed Nevada. Montana’s win over Nevada was its first NCAA tourney victory in 31 years (since the 1974-75 season). The Griz (24-7) were defeated 69-56 by seventh-ranked and fourth-seeded Boston College (28-8) in a NCAA second-round game, played in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“I was fortunate to be involved with another opportunity,” Krystkowiak said. “Pepperdine University is a pretty special place. I am not desperate to leave Montana, but that’s just part of the business. It was an opportunity that my wife and I thought we should take a look at, and we did just that for a couple of days.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done here, and I am looking forward to the challenges that are ahead of us,” Krystkowiak continued. “We’ve got a great group of guys here; we’ve got a great group of guys coming in; and this is a great program. Everything is in place here facilities-wise. There’s not a program in the country that doesn’t have shortcomings one way or the other. This is a great thing that we’ve got going -- a supportive administration and fans. We lead the Big Sky in attendance with 5,000 people a game, and I think it’s going to improve. We are starting to see some of the fruits of our labor, and it’s going to be enjoyable to keep the process going.”
Krystkowiak said that he would have no further comments on the matter.
“We’re thankful that Larry will be staying at The University of Montana and will continue to head up our men’s basketball program,” O’Day said. “While Larry and his staff have done an incredible job the past two years, they still feel they have more to accomplish here. They’re extremely excited with the potential of next year’s team.
“Larry is committed to our program, and likewise, we have demonstrated to him that we are serious about our intentions to retain his services,” O’Day continued. O’Day failed to elaborate on his intentions, but he did say that the Montana Board of Regents will be reviewing coaching contracts and other related items at their upcoming June 1-2 meeting.
In the meantime, Krystkowiak and his staff will continue preparing for the 2006-07 season. In addition to recruiting, the former Griz and NBA star said that he hoped to name a replacement for recently departed Griz assistant coach Brad Huse, who was named the mentor at Montana State, in the next couple of weeks.
Montana returns three starters as well as 10 lettermen from its 24-7 team. The Griz also signed four highly-recruited student-athletes: 6-5 junior forward Gus Chase from Sheridan Junior College in Wyoming; along with preps Zach Graves, a 6-2 guard from Kennedy High School in Sacramento, Calif.; 6-1 guard Cameron Rundles from De La salle High in Minneapolis, Minn.; and 7-0 center Dave Vanderjagt from Townsville Queensland, Australia.
-griz
State, Local, Web 4/17/06-dg MISSOULA –
University of Montana men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak has decided to withdraw from consideration for the vacant Pepperdine University coaching position and will remain at the helm of the Grizzly basketball program, according to UM Athletic Director Jim O’Day.
In a statement released Monday by UM, Krystkowiak weighed his options over the weekend before making his final decision to remain in Missoula. He was one of four finalists for the Pepperdine job, which opened when coach Paul Westphal’s contract was not renewed.
Krystkowiak recently finished his second year as head coach at his alma mater where his teams have gone 42-20 overall and 19-9 in Big Sky Conference games. During his tenure, Coach K’s Grizzlies have won two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles, earning two consecutive NCAA berths.
Last month, 12-seeded Montana advanced into the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with an 87-79 first-round victory over No. 5-seed Nevada. Montana’s win over Nevada was its first NCAA tourney victory in 31 years (since the 1974-75 season). The Griz (24-7) were defeated 69-56 by seventh-ranked and fourth-seeded Boston College (28-8) in a NCAA second-round game, played in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“I was fortunate to be involved with another opportunity,” Krystkowiak said. “Pepperdine University is a pretty special place. I am not desperate to leave Montana, but that’s just part of the business. It was an opportunity that my wife and I thought we should take a look at, and we did just that for a couple of days.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done here, and I am looking forward to the challenges that are ahead of us,” Krystkowiak continued. “We’ve got a great group of guys here; we’ve got a great group of guys coming in; and this is a great program. Everything is in place here facilities-wise. There’s not a program in the country that doesn’t have shortcomings one way or the other. This is a great thing that we’ve got going -- a supportive administration and fans. We lead the Big Sky in attendance with 5,000 people a game, and I think it’s going to improve. We are starting to see some of the fruits of our labor, and it’s going to be enjoyable to keep the process going.”
Krystkowiak said that he would have no further comments on the matter.
“We’re thankful that Larry will be staying at The University of Montana and will continue to head up our men’s basketball program,” O’Day said. “While Larry and his staff have done an incredible job the past two years, they still feel they have more to accomplish here. They’re extremely excited with the potential of next year’s team.
“Larry is committed to our program, and likewise, we have demonstrated to him that we are serious about our intentions to retain his services,” O’Day continued. O’Day failed to elaborate on his intentions, but he did say that the Montana Board of Regents will be reviewing coaching contracts and other related items at their upcoming June 1-2 meeting.
In the meantime, Krystkowiak and his staff will continue preparing for the 2006-07 season. In addition to recruiting, the former Griz and NBA star said that he hoped to name a replacement for recently departed Griz assistant coach Brad Huse, who was named the mentor at Montana State, in the next couple of weeks.
Montana returns three starters as well as 10 lettermen from its 24-7 team. The Griz also signed four highly-recruited student-athletes: 6-5 junior forward Gus Chase from Sheridan Junior College in Wyoming; along with preps Zach Graves, a 6-2 guard from Kennedy High School in Sacramento, Calif.; 6-1 guard Cameron Rundles from De La salle High in Minneapolis, Minn.; and 7-0 center Dave Vanderjagt from Townsville Queensland, Australia.
-griz
