Staff Directory
Smallwood, Sunny
Sunny Smallwood
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 406.994.6021
Sunny Smallwood was named Montana State Associate Head Coach on June 29, 2018.
In her tenure with the Blue and Gold, Smallwood had helped the Bobcats to a 100-52 overall mark and a 70-24 Big Sky Conference ledger. In addition, MSU has posted three 20-win campaigns, including a school record 25 victories in 2019-20. During the 2019-20 season, Montana State also established a Big Sky record with 19 league wins. In five seasons, she has been instrumental in leading the Bobcats to two Big Sky regular-season titles, an NCAA Tournament appearance and four top 3 showings.
Considered one of the best assistants in NCAA Division I basketball, Smallwood served as associate head coach at the University of Arizona before making the move to Bozeman. In addition, the 35-year veteran has also served as an associate head coach at Nebraska, California and Boise State. Smallwood also worked as an assistant at Washington and Washington State.
In her second season at Arizona, Smallwood helped the Wildcats land the nation’s fourth best recruiting class and the top haul in the Pac 12 according to ProspectsNation.com. It was the highest ranked class in Arizona history led by McDonalds All-American Cate Reese, who is considered among the top five incoming post players in the country.
On the court, Smallwood served as Arizona’s defensive coordinator and the Wildcats saw an increase in steals and blocks, while its field-goal percentage defense was the schools’ best in five seasons.
Prior to her two-year stint in Tucson, Smallwood was the recruiting and defensive coordinator at Boise State. In her final season with the Broncos, BSU posted an overall record of 19-11 and a 12-6 ledger in Mountain West Conference action. Smallwood was pivotal in the development of Brooke Pahukoa and Shalen Shaw, who were selected to the All-Mountain West team, while Miquelle Askew earned honorable mention accolades. In addition, Marta Hermida was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
During her first year with Boise State, Smallwood helped lead the team to a Mountain West Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance posting an overall mark of 22-11. She helped Deanna Weaver to WBCA All-Region and All-American honorable mention accolades. Off the court, nine players combined to receive 13 academic honors.
Prior to her stop at Boise State, Smallwood spent nine seasons at the University of Nebraska, including the last six as associate head coach. During her time in Lincoln, she helped the Cornhuskers to eight postseason appearances, which included six trips to the NCAA Tournament.
In six of her nine seasons, Nebraska won at least 20 games capped in 2009-10 as Nebraska went 32-2 overall earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before advancing to the Sweet 16. Cornhusker head coach Connie Yori swept all five National Coach of the Year awards that season, as well.
At NU, Smallwood helped lead the charge in recruiting two-time Nancy Lieberman Award finalist Lindsey Moore. She also assisted in the development of All-Americans Jordan Hooper and Kelsey Griffen.
In her last five seasons at Nebraska, the Huskers averaged 24 wins per year, which was the most successful stretch in Nebraska history. Prior to Smallwood’s coaching tenure at Nebraska, no team had ever won 24 games in one season.
Smallwood spent one season at the University of California prior to her stint in Lincoln. She was named the associate head coach for the 2004-05 season and helped the Bears bring in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.
Prior to her time at Berkeley, Smallwood spent 11 years as an assistant coach at Washington. She served as recruiting coordinator, and for the last eight seasons, as the lead assistant coach. During her time in Seattle, she helped lead the Huskies to six NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1995 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2001.
In her tenure at Washington, Smallwood coached at least one All-Pac-10 player in all but one season. Some of her top recruits included Havre standout and current Northern Arizona head coach Loree Payne, former Bozeman Hawk all-state performer Andrea Lalum and former Montana State assistant coach Giuliana Mendiola, who was named the 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year.
Smallwood began her Division I coaching career in 1990 as an assistant coach at Washington State. In her first season in Pullman the Cougars earned their first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.
After graduating from Boise State, she spent seven years as head coach at Boise High School and led the team to two state tournament appearances in 1986 and 1989.
Smallwood earned her degree in secondary education from BSU in 1983. As a student-athlete she was a two-time first-team All-Mountain West Academic selection.
Smallwood attended Carbon High School in Price, Utah, where she was a multi-sport athlete and earned 16 varsity letters.
In her tenure with the Blue and Gold, Smallwood had helped the Bobcats to a 100-52 overall mark and a 70-24 Big Sky Conference ledger. In addition, MSU has posted three 20-win campaigns, including a school record 25 victories in 2019-20. During the 2019-20 season, Montana State also established a Big Sky record with 19 league wins. In five seasons, she has been instrumental in leading the Bobcats to two Big Sky regular-season titles, an NCAA Tournament appearance and four top 3 showings.
Considered one of the best assistants in NCAA Division I basketball, Smallwood served as associate head coach at the University of Arizona before making the move to Bozeman. In addition, the 35-year veteran has also served as an associate head coach at Nebraska, California and Boise State. Smallwood also worked as an assistant at Washington and Washington State.
In her second season at Arizona, Smallwood helped the Wildcats land the nation’s fourth best recruiting class and the top haul in the Pac 12 according to ProspectsNation.com. It was the highest ranked class in Arizona history led by McDonalds All-American Cate Reese, who is considered among the top five incoming post players in the country.
On the court, Smallwood served as Arizona’s defensive coordinator and the Wildcats saw an increase in steals and blocks, while its field-goal percentage defense was the schools’ best in five seasons.
Prior to her two-year stint in Tucson, Smallwood was the recruiting and defensive coordinator at Boise State. In her final season with the Broncos, BSU posted an overall record of 19-11 and a 12-6 ledger in Mountain West Conference action. Smallwood was pivotal in the development of Brooke Pahukoa and Shalen Shaw, who were selected to the All-Mountain West team, while Miquelle Askew earned honorable mention accolades. In addition, Marta Hermida was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
During her first year with Boise State, Smallwood helped lead the team to a Mountain West Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance posting an overall mark of 22-11. She helped Deanna Weaver to WBCA All-Region and All-American honorable mention accolades. Off the court, nine players combined to receive 13 academic honors.
Prior to her stop at Boise State, Smallwood spent nine seasons at the University of Nebraska, including the last six as associate head coach. During her time in Lincoln, she helped the Cornhuskers to eight postseason appearances, which included six trips to the NCAA Tournament.
In six of her nine seasons, Nebraska won at least 20 games capped in 2009-10 as Nebraska went 32-2 overall earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before advancing to the Sweet 16. Cornhusker head coach Connie Yori swept all five National Coach of the Year awards that season, as well.
At NU, Smallwood helped lead the charge in recruiting two-time Nancy Lieberman Award finalist Lindsey Moore. She also assisted in the development of All-Americans Jordan Hooper and Kelsey Griffen.
In her last five seasons at Nebraska, the Huskers averaged 24 wins per year, which was the most successful stretch in Nebraska history. Prior to Smallwood’s coaching tenure at Nebraska, no team had ever won 24 games in one season.
Smallwood spent one season at the University of California prior to her stint in Lincoln. She was named the associate head coach for the 2004-05 season and helped the Bears bring in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.
Prior to her time at Berkeley, Smallwood spent 11 years as an assistant coach at Washington. She served as recruiting coordinator, and for the last eight seasons, as the lead assistant coach. During her time in Seattle, she helped lead the Huskies to six NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1995 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2001.
In her tenure at Washington, Smallwood coached at least one All-Pac-10 player in all but one season. Some of her top recruits included Havre standout and current Northern Arizona head coach Loree Payne, former Bozeman Hawk all-state performer Andrea Lalum and former Montana State assistant coach Giuliana Mendiola, who was named the 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year.
Smallwood began her Division I coaching career in 1990 as an assistant coach at Washington State. In her first season in Pullman the Cougars earned their first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.
After graduating from Boise State, she spent seven years as head coach at Boise High School and led the team to two state tournament appearances in 1986 and 1989.
Smallwood earned her degree in secondary education from BSU in 1983. As a student-athlete she was a two-time first-team All-Mountain West Academic selection.
Smallwood attended Carbon High School in Price, Utah, where she was a multi-sport athlete and earned 16 varsity letters.
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