Get thee to Montana if you want to be successful in coaching

Matt Piper/Kyle Goon detail Utah Coach Larry Krystkowiak's new contract.

More impressive (unless you are related to the Runnin' Utes coach and such is spelled out in his will), is the amazing number of successful D1 head coaches who have sprouted out of being a member of the Montana basketball program either as a player or assistant.

Try:

* Jud Heathcote (Washington State assistant, five years in Bozeman with an 80-53 record, then to Michigan State)

* Mike Montgomery (Boise State assistant, eight years in Bozeman with a 154-77 record, then to Stanford, the NBA and finally California)

* Larry Krystkowiak (played at Montana, coached there two years as an assistant and later was head coach in Missoula for two years, 42-20 record, coach and assisted in the NBA, then to Utah, 68-63 in four seasons)

* Wayne Tinkle (played at Montana, assisted for five years, head coach for eight years, 158-89 record), now at Oregon State

* Stew Morrill (assisted at Montana for eight years, five years as head coach, 97-52 record, then to Colorado State for seven years followed by 18 years at Utah State, 620-294 record)

* Blaine Taylor (played at Montana, assisted for seven years at Montana, head coach at Montana for seven years, 144-66 record), followed by 12 seasons at Old Dominion)

This is amazing! And Montana is a Big Sky Conference member.