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Mendiola comes on board with an exciting resume and I am very excited to see her come on board, to continue the strong tradition that Binford has developed at MSU.
With the addition of Mendiola I also need to take a moment and thank Justin Scanson who Mendiola is replacing. Assistants never get the credit they deserve at the Big Sky level but Scanson had a big impact on the Bobcat basketball team over the past few year. He recruited Australia for the team and also key to MSU landing some of the better Montana athletes over his tenure. I am not going to give Justin all of the credit but over the past 5 years the Bobcat aggressive recruitment and scouting of the better Montana basketball player have changed the way the Griz have recruited the state. The Griz no longer take for granted ANYTHING.
The problem w/ Asst Coaches is that in order to hire a new exciting young coach you also have to say goodbye to a beloved & quality coach. Welcome Aboard Montana State basketball Ms. Mendiola we are excited to have you part of the team & thank you Mr. Scanson you will be missed.
Former Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year Giuliana Mendiola has been named assistant women's basketball coach at Montana State University, announced seventh-year Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford.
Mendiola, a 2004 graduate of the University of Washington, brings an impressive collegiate and professional playing resume` to the MSU program.
“We're extremely excited to get a coach that has played at such a high level of competition,” Binford said. “Giuliana brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. She was an exceptional player and leader and will be able to utilize these strengths in developing our student-athletes.”
Mendiola was a 2004 John Wooden National Player of the Year finalist. She ended her career as the only player in Pac-10 history to score over 1,500 points, pull down over 700 rebounds and dish out over 600 assists. Mendiola was also a two-time Associated Press and Kodak Honorable Mention All America in 2003 and 2004.
As a professional player, Mendiola played five seasons in Greece, Spain and Switzerland and averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 59 percent from the field. She was a five-time Greek All Star and garnered 2007 All Star game MVP honors.
Mendiola played one season with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs and one season with the NWBL's San Francisco Legacy. She made history in 2005 as a member of the Los Angeles Aftershock, becoming the first women to play, start and score in the ABA- a professional men's league.
As a prepster at El Toro High School in Lake Forest, Calif., Mendiola became the only player in California history to score over 3,000 points and distribute over 700 assists.
“"I am extremely happy to join the MSU women's basketball program,” Mendiola said. “I came here for three reasons: To grow as a coach under a great coaching staff, to be a role model, mentor and motivator for these young women, and to help this team improve and win championships. I look forward to passing along everything I've learned on my journey to really develop these players and help them reach new heights.”
Mendiola has already started her duties at Montana State and replaces Justin Scanson, who left the Bobcat program to enter private business.
