Michael John Montgomery (born February 27, 1947) is a retired American basketball coach. He is best known for his 18-year tenure at Stanford (1986–2004), where he led the program to 12 NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 1998. Montgomery previously served as head coach at the Montana (1978–1986).[1] Following his time at Stanford, he coached the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for two seasons (2004–2006) before ending his career at the University of California (2008–2014). He announced his retirement from coaching following the 2013–14 season.[2]

Mike Montgomery
Montgomery in May 2009
Biographical details
Born (1947-02-27) February 27, 1947 (age 77)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Alma materLong Beach State, B.A.
Colorado State, M.Ed.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1969–1970Coast Guard (assistant)
1970–1971Colorado State (assistant)
1971–1972The Citadel (assistant)
1972–1973Florida (assistant)
1973–1976Boise State (assistant)
1976–1978Montana (assistant)
1978–1986Montana
1986–2004Stanford
2004–2006Golden State Warriors
2008–2014California
Head coaching record
Overall677–317 (college)
68–96 (NBA)
Tournaments18–16 (NCAA Division I)
9–6 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA Regional—Final Four (1998)
NIT (1991)
Big Sky regular season (1986)
5 Pac-10 regular season (1999–2001, 2004, 2010)
Pac-10 tournament (2004)
Awards
Naismith College Coach of the Year (2000)
co-NABC Coach of the Year (2004)
Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004)
John R. Wooden Award Legends of Coaching Award (2004)
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2016

Over his 32-year collegiate coaching career, Montgomery made 16 NCAA Tournaments, captured 6 conference championships, and amassed nearly 700 victories. He also led Stanford to the NIT championship in 1991.

Early years

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Born and reared in Long Beach, California, Montgomery graduated from its Millikan High School and attended Long Beach State. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Long Beach State and later a Master's degree in physical education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Montgomery is an alumni member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, which he joined while at Long Beach State.

College coaching career

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Montgomery compiled a 677–317 (.681) overall record in over 30 years at Berkeley (2008–2014), Stanford (1986–2004) and Montana (1978–1986). He boasts 31 winning seasons in his 32 years as a head coach at Berkeley, Stanford and Montana. Montgomery's Stanford teams reached the NCAA tournament ten straight times from 1995 to 2004. Stanford reached the Final Four under Montgomery in 1998, the school's first Final Four appearance in 56 years. He made his third appearance along the USA Basketball sidelines in 2002 when he was named an assistant under George Karl for the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.[3]

Prior to being named head coach at Montana in 1978, he was an assistant for the Grizz in Missoula for two seasons under new head coach Jim Brandenburg, who succeeded hall of famer Jud Heathcote in 1976. Brandenburg left after two season for Wyoming in 1978 and Montgomery was promoted.[1] At Montana, Montgomery coached future NBA players Micheal Ray Richardson and Larry Krystkowiak. Prior to Montana, Montgomery was an assistant for three years at Boise State under Bus Connor, and had previously been an assistant for a season each at four different schools.

In 2000, Montgomery was named the Naismith and Basketball Times Coach of the Year. He was also named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year four times. Following his career at Stanford, he was awarded the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award.

On August 30, 2007, Stanford University announced that Montgomery was returning to the university as Assistant to the Athletic Director on a part-time basis. According to the announcement, "his duties will include fund raising and public relations while also serving as a mentor to Stanford's coaching staff."[4]

On April 4, 2008, Montgomery was named the head coach of the California men's basketball program.[5] In his first season the Golden Bears went 22–10 and made it to the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the first round to Maryland.

On February 27, 2010, Cal defeated Arizona State, 62–46, to clinch at least a tie for the Pacific-10 Conference championship, the first for the school since 1960. On March 6, the Bears defeated Montgomery's former team, Stanford, 71–61, to clinch an undisputed conference championship. Cal was defeated by Washington in the finals of the Pac-10 tournament, but received a bid to the NCAA tournament, where they were seeded 8th in the South Region. The Bears advanced to the second round, where they were defeated by eventual National Champion Duke.

On March 31, 2014, Montgomery announced his retirement from California.[2]

NBA coaching career

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Montgomery left Stanford to become the head coach of the Golden State Warriors on May 21, 2004. He coached the Warriors for two seasons, during each of which the team compiled identical 34-48 records. Montgomery was terminated as Warriors coach on August 29, 2006.

Personal

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In October 2011, Montgomery revealed that he had recently been diagnosed and treated for bladder cancer. After a surgical procedure was performed, Montgomery declared himself "cancer-free.[6]

On February 18, 2013, Coach Montgomery was reprimanded by the Pac-12 Conference for shoving one of his players in the chest during a game against USC. The conference did not announce what punishment Montgomery received for his actions, although he was not suspended. Commissioner Larry Scott commented, "While emotions can run high in competitive environments, Pac-12 coaches are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect credit on the institution and the conference."[7]

Montgomery and his wife Sara have two adult children; son John is an assistant coach at Hawaii.[8]

Head coaching record

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Montgomery huddles with his players in December 2008

College

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Montana Grizzlies (Big Sky Conference) (1978–1986)
1978–79 Montana 14–13 7–7 T–4th
1979–80 Montana 17–11 8–6 3rd
1980–81 Montana 19–9 11–3 2nd
1981–82 Montana 17–10 10–4 2nd
1982–83 Montana 21–8 9–5 3rd
1983–84 Montana 23–7 9–5 2nd
1984–85 Montana 22–8 10–4 2nd NIT first round
1985–86 Montana 21–11 9–5 T–1st
Montana: 154–77 (.667) 73–39 (.652)
Stanford Cardinal (Pacific-10 Conference) (1986–2004)
1986–87 Stanford 15–13 9–9 6th
1987–88 Stanford 21–12 11–7 4th NIT second round
1988–89 Stanford 26–7 15–3 2nd NCAA Division I Round of 64
1989–90 Stanford 18–12 9–9 6th NIT first round
1990–91 Stanford 20–13 8–10 5th NIT champion
1991–92 Stanford 18–11 10–8 4th NCAA Division I Round of 64
1992–93 Stanford 7–23 2–16 10th
1993–94 Stanford 17–11 10–8 5th NIT first round
1994–95 Stanford 20–9 10–8 5th NCAA Division I Round of 32
1995–96 Stanford 21–8 12–6 3rd NCAA Division I Round of 32
1996–97 Stanford 22–8 12–6 T–2nd NCAA Division I Sweet 16
1997–98 Stanford 30–5 15–3 2nd NCAA Division I Final Four
1998–99 Stanford 26–7 15–3 1st NCAA Division I Round of 32
1999–00 Stanford 27–4 15–3 T–1st NCAA Division I Round of 32
2000–01 Stanford 31–3 16–2 1st NCAA Division I Elite Eight
2001–02 Stanford 20–10 12–6 T–2nd NCAA Division I Round of 32
2002–03 Stanford 24–9 14–4 2nd NCAA Division I Round of 32
2003–04 Stanford 30–2 17–1 1st NCAA Division I Round of 32
Stanford: 393–167 (.702) 212–112 (.654)
California Golden Bears (Pacific-10/Pac-12 Conference) (2008–2014)
2008–09 California 22–11 11–7 T–3rd NCAA Division I Round of 64
2009–10 California 24–11 13–5 1st NCAA Division I Round of 32
2010–11 California 18–15 10–8 T–4th NIT second round
2011–12 California 24–10 13–5 T–2nd NCAA Division I First Four
2012–13 California 21–12 12–6 T–2nd NCAA Division I Round of 32
2013–14 California 21–14 10–8 T–3rd NIT quarterfinal
California: 130–73 (.640) 69–39 (.639)
Total: 677–317 (.681)[9]

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Golden State 2004–05 82 34 48 .415 5th in Pacific Missed playoffs
Golden State 2005–06 82 34 48 .415 5th in Pacific Missed playoffs
Career 164 68 96 .415

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Montana hoop coach takes Stanford post". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. UPI. April 26, 1986. p. 7.
  2. ^ a b "Cal coach Mike Montgomery retiring - CBSSports.com". Archived from the original on 2015-06-06.
  3. ^ 2002 USA Basketball Archived 2007-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Mike Montgomery Returning to Stanford as Assistant to the Athletic Director" (Press release). Stanford University. 2007-08-30. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2007-08-31. Mike Montgomery, Stanford's all-time winningest coach in men's basketball history, is returning to The Farm on a part-time basis as Assistant to the Athletic Director.
  5. ^ Associated Press It was a controversial choice, as Cal and Stanford are longtime rivals. (4 April 2008). "Ex-Stanford coach Montgomery headed to rival Cal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  6. ^ Associated Press (28 October 2011). "Mike Montgomery had bladder surgery". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  7. ^ "Pac-12 reprimands California coach Mike Montgomery for shoving player". USA Today. February 18, 2013.
  8. ^ "John Montgomery". University of Hawaii Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  9. ^ "Mike Montgomery Coaching Record - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". Retrieved March 16, 2014.
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