Huse Rounds Out Coaching Staff
4/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Brad Huse added a regional and Big Sky Conference flavor in rounding out his first Montana State coaching staff on Monday.
Former Eastern Washington University assistant Ryan Orton and Shawn Dirden, who played in the Big Sky for two seasons at Idaho, join former Bobcat guard Danny Sprinkle in filling the MSU coaching staff, Huse said. The two begin their MSU duties later this week.
"These three coaches complement one another well," Huse said, "especially when you compare their recruiting background and experience.
Ultimately, I think all are excited to put their stamp on Montana State University and this program, and I'm looking forward to absorbing some of their energy as we move forward."
Orton served as an assistant coach at Northwest Nazarene University, an NCAA Division II institution near Boise, for the past two seasons. He was interim head coach at Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., in 2003-04, and before that was an assistant coach at Eastern Washington from 2000-03. Under Ray Giacoletti, now the head coach at Utah, Eastern built a program that would win the 2004 Big Sky Championship during Orton's time. He was an administrative assistant at Eastern from 1998-2000. The Creswell, Ore., product earned his BS from Eastern Oregon in 1996, and his Master's from EWU in 2001.
"Ryan has established a strong resume," Huse said. "He was an important part of strong teams at Eastern Washington during his five years there, and his experiences at Lane and Northwest Nazarene have exposed him to all facets of coaching. His familiarity with the northwest, the Big Sky Conference, and his energy and enthusiasm make for a nice combination. In putting the staff together I focused on bringing somebody on board with strong ties in Washington and Oregon, and Ryan fits that bill perfectly. He has a reputation of being a tireless worker and an effective recruiter.
He is a good fit in our program."
Dirden was a standout at Idaho from 1994-96, earning the school's Chris White Sportsmanship Award as a senior. He transferred to Idaho after playing at Otero Junior College from 1992-94, where he earned Region 9 All-Academic and All-Defensive Team honors. He also earned Colorado all-state mention at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo. After his Idaho career, Dirden played internationally in Holland, Sweden, China, Lebanon and Venezuela, and also played in the USBL and CBA. An assistant at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, last season, he has also served as head boys basketball coach at George Washington High School in Denver (2002-05), and operated a Denver-area AAU traveling team. He earned his BS from Idaho in 1997 after earning an Associate's Degree from Otero in '94.
"I've developed a good relationship with Shawn in recent years," Huse said. "I've come to respect how hard he works and I'm impressed by his enthusiasm for coaching. Shawn's background is comprehensive: he's played professionally, founded his own AAU team, been a head high school coach, and recruited on the college level. He's well-rounded and has proven himself as a leader. I know the players will respect him. He will be a great asset to our program."
Huse indicated that each of the assistant coaches maintain duties in all the program's responsibility areas. "There won't be a pecking order on our coaching staff," he said. "We will share duties and overlap in many areas."
Former Eastern Washington University assistant Ryan Orton and Shawn Dirden, who played in the Big Sky for two seasons at Idaho, join former Bobcat guard Danny Sprinkle in filling the MSU coaching staff, Huse said. The two begin their MSU duties later this week.
"These three coaches complement one another well," Huse said, "especially when you compare their recruiting background and experience.
Ultimately, I think all are excited to put their stamp on Montana State University and this program, and I'm looking forward to absorbing some of their energy as we move forward."
Orton served as an assistant coach at Northwest Nazarene University, an NCAA Division II institution near Boise, for the past two seasons. He was interim head coach at Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., in 2003-04, and before that was an assistant coach at Eastern Washington from 2000-03. Under Ray Giacoletti, now the head coach at Utah, Eastern built a program that would win the 2004 Big Sky Championship during Orton's time. He was an administrative assistant at Eastern from 1998-2000. The Creswell, Ore., product earned his BS from Eastern Oregon in 1996, and his Master's from EWU in 2001.
"Ryan has established a strong resume," Huse said. "He was an important part of strong teams at Eastern Washington during his five years there, and his experiences at Lane and Northwest Nazarene have exposed him to all facets of coaching. His familiarity with the northwest, the Big Sky Conference, and his energy and enthusiasm make for a nice combination. In putting the staff together I focused on bringing somebody on board with strong ties in Washington and Oregon, and Ryan fits that bill perfectly. He has a reputation of being a tireless worker and an effective recruiter.
He is a good fit in our program."
Dirden was a standout at Idaho from 1994-96, earning the school's Chris White Sportsmanship Award as a senior. He transferred to Idaho after playing at Otero Junior College from 1992-94, where he earned Region 9 All-Academic and All-Defensive Team honors. He also earned Colorado all-state mention at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo. After his Idaho career, Dirden played internationally in Holland, Sweden, China, Lebanon and Venezuela, and also played in the USBL and CBA. An assistant at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, last season, he has also served as head boys basketball coach at George Washington High School in Denver (2002-05), and operated a Denver-area AAU traveling team. He earned his BS from Idaho in 1997 after earning an Associate's Degree from Otero in '94.
"I've developed a good relationship with Shawn in recent years," Huse said. "I've come to respect how hard he works and I'm impressed by his enthusiasm for coaching. Shawn's background is comprehensive: he's played professionally, founded his own AAU team, been a head high school coach, and recruited on the college level. He's well-rounded and has proven himself as a leader. I know the players will respect him. He will be a great asset to our program."
Huse indicated that each of the assistant coaches maintain duties in all the program's responsibility areas. "There won't be a pecking order on our coaching staff," he said. "We will share duties and overlap in many areas."
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