Big Sky Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jun 21, 2020

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Head coach Travis DeCuire speaks with Ahmaad Rorie #14, Sayeed Pridgett #4 and Fabijan Krslovic #20 of the Montana Grizzlies during a stopage against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – DECEMBER 01: Head coach Travis DeCuire of the Montana Grizzlies (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

5. Big Sky Basketball coach rankings – Travis DeCuire (Montana, 2014-2020)

When DeCuire was hired by Montana in 2014, he was the latest in a line of young coaches returning to their alma mater. He starred for Montana in the early 90’s and had spent the last six seasons under former Montana coach Mike Montgomery before getting his first chance to be a head coach. Montana has been the top program in the conference for quite a long time, and DeCuire has made sure the Grizzlies stay just that.

Montana remains a dominant team in the Big Sky under DeCuire, returning to the NCAA Tournament in both 2018 and 2019. DeCuire led his first team to the NIT after winning the regular-season title and is 85-27 against Big Sky foes. Those two 26-win NCAA Tournament seasons are the clear highlight for DeCuire, while last year’s only finished in third place before the postseason was canceled.

DeCuire remains at Montana and has maintained the program’s presence atop the Big Sky. He’s not winning titles every season, but he’s certainly done what’s been asked of him. As he continues to build up this Montana program, it’ll be interesting to see if he can lead the Grizzlies to their first Tournament upset since 2006. Either way, expect to keep seeing Montana near the top of the league standings.

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