Montana State Athletics Invites Five Volleyball Candidates to Campus
1/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
According to Camie Bechtold, chair of the volleyball search committee and associate MSU athletics director, around 70 individuals applied for the Montana State opening.
“The Montana State volleyball program is in the position to attract outstanding candidates,” Bechtold said. “We received applications with a variety of backgrounds and experiences at every level of volleyball.”
Bechtold said that on-campus interviews will begin next week.
During their time on campus, the candidates will meet with a myriad of Bobcat constituencies, including an open public forum (schedule to be announced next week).
“The quality of the pool was extraordinary,” Fields said. “Our hiring process will remain consistent with past openings. The candidates will meet with many MSU constituencies, including the community during their time on campus.”
Along with Bechtold, the search committee was comprised of Pat Donahoe, director of MSU counseling and psychological services; George Haynes, professor of agricultural economics/economics; Ginny Hunt, former MSU women’s athletics director, Hayward Lafferty, director of the Bobcat Club; Shannon Lundgren, Bozeman business owner and former Bobcat volleyball player; Tom Schulz, MSU sports information director; Tom Stump, MSU director of auxiliary services; and Andrea Thornton, MSU assistant strength and conditioning coach.
“I would really like to thank the committee for their work and diligence,” Fields said. “They worked through the holiday season to keep the search on its time line. They have recommended candidates they feel will be a good fit for Montana State and that will make an impact on the future of our volleyball program.”
Invited for on-campus interviews are: (alphabetical order)
Brent Aldridge, Assistant Coach, Brigham Young University: Aldridge has served as the first assistant at BYU for the past three seasons under head coach Jason Watson, a former Montana State assistant coach. This past season, the Cougars posted a 24-8 overall mark, advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight, after upsetting No. 6 Washington in the Sweet 16. BYU bowed out to eventual national champion Penn State. BYU ended the season ranked No. 12 in the final AVCA Coaches poll. During his tenure with BYU, the Cougars have notched an impressive 74-18 overall mark and a 39-9 Mountain West ledger, which includes the 2005 MWC title. Prior to BYU, Aldridge served as a first assistant at New Mexico from 2002-05; and at Northern Arizona 2001-02. Aldridge began his collegiate coaching career as head coach at Saint Mary’s College in Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of South Dakota.
Debby Baker, Director of Operations, New Mexico State University: Baker currently serves as the director of volleyball operations at New Mexico State University. This fall, the Aggies posted a 26-5 overall mark and a 14-2 record in Western Athletic Conference action. NMSU finished the year ranked No. 21 in the final AVCA Coaches poll. The Aggies had been ranked as high as No. 13, this season. During her tenure in Las Cruces, New Mexico State has logged four NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to this season, Baker served as an assistant coach at NMSU from 2002-2007. As an assistant, Baker was NMSU’s recruiting coordinator and her 2003 class was ranked among the top 50 in the nation by prepvolleyball.com. Baker served as an assistant at New Mexico from 2001-02, where she coordinated foreign recruiting in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Canada. She also served as a volunteer assistant at Utah State, 2000, and as an assistant coach at the College of Southern Idaho, 1994-95. Baker is a 1995 graduate of Utah State University.
Matt Botsford, Assistant Coach, University of Miami: Botsford has served as an assistant coach at the University of Miami for the past four seasons. This past fall, the Hurricanes recorded a 14-17 overall mark and an 8-14 slate in the ACC. At Miami, he serves as the recruiting coordinator where he solidified two of the highest rated recruiting classes in the program’s history. Botsford has helped coach two All-Americans and five All-ACC players. Prior to his stint in Coral Gables, he served as an assistant coach at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) from 2001-2004. At IUPUI, he coached the two-time Mid-Con Conference Player of the Year. Botsford was also in charge of the Athletic Mentoring Program with the Jaguars. Prior to IUPUI, he served stints at the University of Indianapolis, 1999-2000, and Tri-State University, 1998-99. Botsford has coached numerous club programs and served as an assistant with the USA Volleyball A1 Select Team. He is a 1998 graduate of Tri-State University.
Dave Gantt, Former Head Coach, Montana State: Currently an associate with Patrick Bates Land Company, Gantt served as head coach at Montana State from 1994-2002. He completed his career with the Bobcats as MSU’s all-time winningest coach, posting a 159-96 overall mark at Montana State. Gantt notched his best season in 1998 as the Bobcats posted a 21-6 record. Following his coaching career, he moved into administration at Montana State, before becoming athletics director at MSU-Northern, where he served from 2005-07. Prior to his stint at Montana State, Gantt served two seasons at Oregon State University, where he logged a 29-36 mark in the PAC-10 Conference. From 1990-91, he served as an assistant coach with the US Men’s National Team that competed in the World Championships and Goodwill Games. He was head coach at MSU Northern from 1988-89. Gantt is a 1978 graduate of the University of Great Falls.
Sara Schaub, Head Coach, MSU Billings: Schaub completed her first season as head coach at Montana State University Billings, this fall. She led the Yellowjackets to an 18-10 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action. Prior to her stay in Billings, Schaub served five seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University, where she helped guide the Eagles to the Mid-American Conference West Division title in 2005- a first in the school’s history. At Eastern Michigan, she directed and managed all recruiting activities as well as monitoring student-athlete academic success. Schaub also served as Eastern Michigan’s head camp administrator and court coach for five years. Schaub played collegiately at EMU, where she was a four-year starter and two-year captain. She is the only player in Mid-American Conference history to average over 4.00 kills and 4.00 digs in the same season. Schaub is a 2001 graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
On campus interviews are slated to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
“The Montana State volleyball program is in the position to attract outstanding candidates,” Bechtold said. “We received applications with a variety of backgrounds and experiences at every level of volleyball.”
Bechtold said that on-campus interviews will begin next week.
During their time on campus, the candidates will meet with a myriad of Bobcat constituencies, including an open public forum (schedule to be announced next week).
“The quality of the pool was extraordinary,” Fields said. “Our hiring process will remain consistent with past openings. The candidates will meet with many MSU constituencies, including the community during their time on campus.”
Along with Bechtold, the search committee was comprised of Pat Donahoe, director of MSU counseling and psychological services; George Haynes, professor of agricultural economics/economics; Ginny Hunt, former MSU women’s athletics director, Hayward Lafferty, director of the Bobcat Club; Shannon Lundgren, Bozeman business owner and former Bobcat volleyball player; Tom Schulz, MSU sports information director; Tom Stump, MSU director of auxiliary services; and Andrea Thornton, MSU assistant strength and conditioning coach.
“I would really like to thank the committee for their work and diligence,” Fields said. “They worked through the holiday season to keep the search on its time line. They have recommended candidates they feel will be a good fit for Montana State and that will make an impact on the future of our volleyball program.”
Invited for on-campus interviews are: (alphabetical order)
Brent Aldridge, Assistant Coach, Brigham Young University: Aldridge has served as the first assistant at BYU for the past three seasons under head coach Jason Watson, a former Montana State assistant coach. This past season, the Cougars posted a 24-8 overall mark, advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight, after upsetting No. 6 Washington in the Sweet 16. BYU bowed out to eventual national champion Penn State. BYU ended the season ranked No. 12 in the final AVCA Coaches poll. During his tenure with BYU, the Cougars have notched an impressive 74-18 overall mark and a 39-9 Mountain West ledger, which includes the 2005 MWC title. Prior to BYU, Aldridge served as a first assistant at New Mexico from 2002-05; and at Northern Arizona 2001-02. Aldridge began his collegiate coaching career as head coach at Saint Mary’s College in Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of South Dakota.
Debby Baker, Director of Operations, New Mexico State University: Baker currently serves as the director of volleyball operations at New Mexico State University. This fall, the Aggies posted a 26-5 overall mark and a 14-2 record in Western Athletic Conference action. NMSU finished the year ranked No. 21 in the final AVCA Coaches poll. The Aggies had been ranked as high as No. 13, this season. During her tenure in Las Cruces, New Mexico State has logged four NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to this season, Baker served as an assistant coach at NMSU from 2002-2007. As an assistant, Baker was NMSU’s recruiting coordinator and her 2003 class was ranked among the top 50 in the nation by prepvolleyball.com. Baker served as an assistant at New Mexico from 2001-02, where she coordinated foreign recruiting in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Canada. She also served as a volunteer assistant at Utah State, 2000, and as an assistant coach at the College of Southern Idaho, 1994-95. Baker is a 1995 graduate of Utah State University.
Matt Botsford, Assistant Coach, University of Miami: Botsford has served as an assistant coach at the University of Miami for the past four seasons. This past fall, the Hurricanes recorded a 14-17 overall mark and an 8-14 slate in the ACC. At Miami, he serves as the recruiting coordinator where he solidified two of the highest rated recruiting classes in the program’s history. Botsford has helped coach two All-Americans and five All-ACC players. Prior to his stint in Coral Gables, he served as an assistant coach at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) from 2001-2004. At IUPUI, he coached the two-time Mid-Con Conference Player of the Year. Botsford was also in charge of the Athletic Mentoring Program with the Jaguars. Prior to IUPUI, he served stints at the University of Indianapolis, 1999-2000, and Tri-State University, 1998-99. Botsford has coached numerous club programs and served as an assistant with the USA Volleyball A1 Select Team. He is a 1998 graduate of Tri-State University.
Dave Gantt, Former Head Coach, Montana State: Currently an associate with Patrick Bates Land Company, Gantt served as head coach at Montana State from 1994-2002. He completed his career with the Bobcats as MSU’s all-time winningest coach, posting a 159-96 overall mark at Montana State. Gantt notched his best season in 1998 as the Bobcats posted a 21-6 record. Following his coaching career, he moved into administration at Montana State, before becoming athletics director at MSU-Northern, where he served from 2005-07. Prior to his stint at Montana State, Gantt served two seasons at Oregon State University, where he logged a 29-36 mark in the PAC-10 Conference. From 1990-91, he served as an assistant coach with the US Men’s National Team that competed in the World Championships and Goodwill Games. He was head coach at MSU Northern from 1988-89. Gantt is a 1978 graduate of the University of Great Falls.
Sara Schaub, Head Coach, MSU Billings: Schaub completed her first season as head coach at Montana State University Billings, this fall. She led the Yellowjackets to an 18-10 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action. Prior to her stay in Billings, Schaub served five seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University, where she helped guide the Eagles to the Mid-American Conference West Division title in 2005- a first in the school’s history. At Eastern Michigan, she directed and managed all recruiting activities as well as monitoring student-athlete academic success. Schaub also served as Eastern Michigan’s head camp administrator and court coach for five years. Schaub played collegiately at EMU, where she was a four-year starter and two-year captain. She is the only player in Mid-American Conference history to average over 4.00 kills and 4.00 digs in the same season. Schaub is a 2001 graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
On campus interviews are slated to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
