Thanks For Coming Mike Montgomery

Jan 2, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; California Golden Bears head coach Mike Montgomery leaves the court after the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. California won 69-62. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

I thought I’d take a minute here to acknowledge Mike Montgomery, who is retiring from coaching after six seasons at Cal.

Between Montana, Stanford and Cal he has won 68% of his games and gone to 16 NCAA tournaments.

Montgomery is also tied to Utah.  Our own coach, Larry Krystkowiak played for him and Stew Morrill coached under him and took over for him at Montana.

But most of all Mike Montgomery indirectly cost Utah a National Title.

If you recall, along with Utah, North Carolina and Kentucky, Montgomery’s Stanford team was the fourth team in the 1998 Final Four.  They also took Kentucky to overtime.  If Stanford had closed the deal against Kentucky, I have very little doubt that Utah would have been National Champions.  Stanford was a much better matchup for Utah.

Montgomery would never again make the Final Four, although he would get to an Elite Eight.  In six season at Cal he would never finish worse than tied for fourth.

When Utah fired Ray Giacolletti, I always thought Utah should have made a high dollar offer to Montgomery, but we’re Utah and we don’t make high dollar offers to coaches.

In any event, Montgomery has had a very nice career and college basketball will be a little less without him.

Thanks for Coach Montgomery.