Danny Sprinkle Departs Montana State After an Amazing Four-Year Tenure
4/7/2023 2:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Helena High product established himself as one of the greatest figures in Bobcat Basketball history
BOZEMAN, Montana – Danny Sprinkle, one of Montana State's most successful and decorated men's basketball coaches in history, resigned his post on Friday to assume the same role at Utah State of the Mountain West.
Sprinkle became the first Bobcat head coach to lead MSU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances by winning the 2022 and 2023 Big Sky Conference Tournaments. He earned Big Sky Coach of the Year honors in 2021-22 when the Cats won the Big Sky regular season crown as a prelude to winning the tournament, a first at Montana State since Sprinkle's freshman year.
"Words can't describe how proud we are of Danny Sprinkle and the work he's done to bring Montana State men's basketball back to prominence," said MSU Director of Athletics Leon Costello. "Leading the Bobcats to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and three straight Big Sky Championship Games is unprecedented in MSU history, and he's done this by creating a team-first culture in the locker room and throughout the Bobcat community that brings us all great pride. We thank him for representing this school, his alma mater, in a first class manner."
Sprinkle compiled an 81-43 record, including 49-23 in the Big Sky. While emphasizing team basketball, Bobcat individuals earned the rewards. The four teams Sprinkle coached at his alma mater produced a Big Sky MVP (Jubrile Belo, 2021-22), two Big Sky Tournament MVPs (Xavier Bishop in 2021-22 and RaeQuan Battle in 2022-23), two Defensive Players of the Year (Belo in 2021-22, Darius Brown in 2022-23), and two Big Sky Reserves of the Year (Battle in 2021-22 and Great Osobor in 2022-23).
In the last four years the Bobcats made history. In addition to the consecutive league tournament championships and three straight conference title game appearances, both firsts in program history, Montana State compiled back-to-back 25-win seasons for the first time since 1927-28 and 1928-29, the era of the Golden Bobcats. In just four seasons Sprinkle's 81 wins stands ninth in program history and his .653 winning percentage is third among coaches with at least two seasons.
Sprinkle sent the following message to Bobcat fans: "There are no words that can describe how thankful I am to be one of you! The last four years have been absolutely unbelievable and I will cherish every memory we had together. Montana State is special because of the "people"! To every player who ever wore the Montana State jersey, I thank you and I cherish our brotherhood. To Waded Cruzado and Leon Costello, I will be forever grateful for you believing in me and giving me my first opportunity. To the 6th Man Club, Bobcat fans and alumni everywhere, Bobcat Athletics administration, and faculty on campus, the restaurants and businesses in town, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I will always be a Bobcat and I hope and pray that I made you proud. I LOVE YOU!"
A beloved figure in Bobcat basketball history long before he became the school's head coach, Sprinkle made an immediate as a sharpshooting guard by winning Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors in 1995-96, when the Cats stormed to a Big Sky regular season title. His 30 points in the league championship game in a frenzied Worthington Arena boosted the Bobcats into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, and he was named Big Sky Tournament MVP. Sprinkle set MSU and Big Sky records for three-point shooting, and was inducted into the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
Costello indicated that a national search for Montana State's next men's basketball coach begins immediately.
#GoCatsGo
Sprinkle became the first Bobcat head coach to lead MSU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances by winning the 2022 and 2023 Big Sky Conference Tournaments. He earned Big Sky Coach of the Year honors in 2021-22 when the Cats won the Big Sky regular season crown as a prelude to winning the tournament, a first at Montana State since Sprinkle's freshman year.
"Words can't describe how proud we are of Danny Sprinkle and the work he's done to bring Montana State men's basketball back to prominence," said MSU Director of Athletics Leon Costello. "Leading the Bobcats to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and three straight Big Sky Championship Games is unprecedented in MSU history, and he's done this by creating a team-first culture in the locker room and throughout the Bobcat community that brings us all great pride. We thank him for representing this school, his alma mater, in a first class manner."
Sprinkle compiled an 81-43 record, including 49-23 in the Big Sky. While emphasizing team basketball, Bobcat individuals earned the rewards. The four teams Sprinkle coached at his alma mater produced a Big Sky MVP (Jubrile Belo, 2021-22), two Big Sky Tournament MVPs (Xavier Bishop in 2021-22 and RaeQuan Battle in 2022-23), two Defensive Players of the Year (Belo in 2021-22, Darius Brown in 2022-23), and two Big Sky Reserves of the Year (Battle in 2021-22 and Great Osobor in 2022-23).
In the last four years the Bobcats made history. In addition to the consecutive league tournament championships and three straight conference title game appearances, both firsts in program history, Montana State compiled back-to-back 25-win seasons for the first time since 1927-28 and 1928-29, the era of the Golden Bobcats. In just four seasons Sprinkle's 81 wins stands ninth in program history and his .653 winning percentage is third among coaches with at least two seasons.
Sprinkle sent the following message to Bobcat fans: "There are no words that can describe how thankful I am to be one of you! The last four years have been absolutely unbelievable and I will cherish every memory we had together. Montana State is special because of the "people"! To every player who ever wore the Montana State jersey, I thank you and I cherish our brotherhood. To Waded Cruzado and Leon Costello, I will be forever grateful for you believing in me and giving me my first opportunity. To the 6th Man Club, Bobcat fans and alumni everywhere, Bobcat Athletics administration, and faculty on campus, the restaurants and businesses in town, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I will always be a Bobcat and I hope and pray that I made you proud. I LOVE YOU!"
A beloved figure in Bobcat basketball history long before he became the school's head coach, Sprinkle made an immediate as a sharpshooting guard by winning Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors in 1995-96, when the Cats stormed to a Big Sky regular season title. His 30 points in the league championship game in a frenzied Worthington Arena boosted the Bobcats into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, and he was named Big Sky Tournament MVP. Sprinkle set MSU and Big Sky records for three-point shooting, and was inducted into the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
Costello indicated that a national search for Montana State's next men's basketball coach begins immediately.
#GoCatsGo
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