Sprinkle Returns to MSU
4/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Danny Sprinkle, whose name remains etched in the MSU and Big Sky Conference record books, joined Brad Huse’s first Bobcat coaching staff on Thursday, bringing one of the most popular figures in the school’s basketball history back into the program.
An All-Big Sky player at MSU from 1995-99, Sprinkle remains sixth in Bobcat history in scoring with 1,497 points scored from 1995 to ‘99. He is also the school’s career three-point record-holder. His 263 long-range bombs is third in Big Sky history. “I’m extremely excited to be back, and I’m ready to get this thing rolling,” Sprinkle said. “Coach Huse is here to build something special, and we want to get the ‘Cats back on top.”
Huse said he is pleased to bring Sprinkle back to Bozeman. “Danny is one of Montana State’s favorite sons,” he said, “and it was a no-brainer for me and one of my first priorities to get him back involved with the program. He’s done a great job establishing a strong recruiting network, and his ties in the state of Montana are very important. His experience at Northridge will make him a great assistant coach at Montan a State.”
A four-year starter at MSU, Sprinkle sparked one of the thrilling episodes in Bobcat history on March 9, 1996. The freshman scored 30 points in the Big Sky Championship game in front of a frenzied, electric Worthington Arena crowd to lead MSU to the school’s second Big Sky Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth. Huse, who took over as Montana State’s head coach last week, was a Bobcat assistant at the time.
That championship season remains special, Sprinkle said. “Obviously we had that great season my freshman year, and every relationship on that team is special. That team was special because of what we accomplished, and I think we all understood what a wonderful coaching staff we had. Coach Huse is one of the people that myself and a lot of the players from that team has stayed in touch with. That team had great camaraderie.”
Sprinkle returns to Bozeman after six seasons as an assistant at Cal State Northridge. He began his coaching career there in 2000-01, the season the Matadors won the Big Sky in their last year in the league, as an administrative assistant. That summer, as CSN prepared to join the Big West, long-time Northridge coach Bobby Braswell promoted Sprinkle to the full-time position he has held since. He is the only member of Braswell’s staff to remain during that time, and he has coordinated the school’s recruiting efforts over the past three seasons.
Sprinkle said the two head coaches with whom he’s been associated at the college level have played major roles in his career. “Coach (Bobby) Braswell (of Cal State Northridge)is extremely detail-oriented,” he said. “He demands perfection. I learned so much from him every day, around-the-office work recruiting, budget. He’s so organized, and that rubs off. It made me a better worker. Mick Durham had a huge influence on me. When I came here, from a basketball sense, I knew how to play, but he taught me how to read things and how to play differently.”
Montana State’s first Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, Sprinkle earned league tourney MVP kudos for his stunning effort in 1996. Sprinkle earned All-Big Sky honors as a sophomore in 1997, and honorable mention honors as a junior and senior. The Helena High product led the Bobcats to the Big Sky Tournament in all four of his seasons at MSU, including the 1996 and ‘98 championship games, averaging 13.4 points with 233 assists and 74 steals over the course of his career. Sprinkle shot 47.3 percent (529-of-1,118) from the field and 45.1 percent (283-of-628) from three-point range as a Bobcat. Sprinkle graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s degree in Health Enhancement in 2000.
A three-sport standout at Helena High, Sprinkle was a two-time all-state basketball player. He was born in Pullman, Wash., on Oct. 12, 1976. His father, Bill, was a standout football player at Great Falls Central and the University of Washington.
An All-Big Sky player at MSU from 1995-99, Sprinkle remains sixth in Bobcat history in scoring with 1,497 points scored from 1995 to ‘99. He is also the school’s career three-point record-holder. His 263 long-range bombs is third in Big Sky history. “I’m extremely excited to be back, and I’m ready to get this thing rolling,” Sprinkle said. “Coach Huse is here to build something special, and we want to get the ‘Cats back on top.”
Huse said he is pleased to bring Sprinkle back to Bozeman. “Danny is one of Montana State’s favorite sons,” he said, “and it was a no-brainer for me and one of my first priorities to get him back involved with the program. He’s done a great job establishing a strong recruiting network, and his ties in the state of Montana are very important. His experience at Northridge will make him a great assistant coach at Montan a State.”
A four-year starter at MSU, Sprinkle sparked one of the thrilling episodes in Bobcat history on March 9, 1996. The freshman scored 30 points in the Big Sky Championship game in front of a frenzied, electric Worthington Arena crowd to lead MSU to the school’s second Big Sky Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth. Huse, who took over as Montana State’s head coach last week, was a Bobcat assistant at the time.
That championship season remains special, Sprinkle said. “Obviously we had that great season my freshman year, and every relationship on that team is special. That team was special because of what we accomplished, and I think we all understood what a wonderful coaching staff we had. Coach Huse is one of the people that myself and a lot of the players from that team has stayed in touch with. That team had great camaraderie.”
Sprinkle returns to Bozeman after six seasons as an assistant at Cal State Northridge. He began his coaching career there in 2000-01, the season the Matadors won the Big Sky in their last year in the league, as an administrative assistant. That summer, as CSN prepared to join the Big West, long-time Northridge coach Bobby Braswell promoted Sprinkle to the full-time position he has held since. He is the only member of Braswell’s staff to remain during that time, and he has coordinated the school’s recruiting efforts over the past three seasons.
Sprinkle said the two head coaches with whom he’s been associated at the college level have played major roles in his career. “Coach (Bobby) Braswell (of Cal State Northridge)is extremely detail-oriented,” he said. “He demands perfection. I learned so much from him every day, around-the-office work recruiting, budget. He’s so organized, and that rubs off. It made me a better worker. Mick Durham had a huge influence on me. When I came here, from a basketball sense, I knew how to play, but he taught me how to read things and how to play differently.”
Montana State’s first Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, Sprinkle earned league tourney MVP kudos for his stunning effort in 1996. Sprinkle earned All-Big Sky honors as a sophomore in 1997, and honorable mention honors as a junior and senior. The Helena High product led the Bobcats to the Big Sky Tournament in all four of his seasons at MSU, including the 1996 and ‘98 championship games, averaging 13.4 points with 233 assists and 74 steals over the course of his career. Sprinkle shot 47.3 percent (529-of-1,118) from the field and 45.1 percent (283-of-628) from three-point range as a Bobcat. Sprinkle graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s degree in Health Enhancement in 2000.
A three-sport standout at Helena High, Sprinkle was a two-time all-state basketball player. He was born in Pullman, Wash., on Oct. 12, 1976. His father, Bill, was a standout football player at Great Falls Central and the University of Washington.
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