Bobcats men’s basketball assistants depart

[Gidal Kaiser]

Montana State’s men’s basketball team will have a familiar look on the floor next season, with 10 returners and four starters, but the team’s bench will have a different look. Bobcat coach Brad Huse said Monday that two of his team’s assistant coaches, Scott Carson and Aerick Sanders, will not return next season.
Sanders accepted a position at New Mexico State after one season with the Bobcats, while Huse announced that Carson would not return for a sixth season.
“Aerick is a talented young coach who has a bright future in the business. New Mexico State played in the NCAA tournament this season and while I didn’t anticipate losing Aerick after just a year, I’m excited about this special opportunity for him.” Huse said. “Scott brought stability and experience to our staff and a great familiarity with MSU and the conference and we appreciate his years of service to the program. Both Scott and Aerick are outstanding people and I wish them the best.”
Huse sees opportunity in adding two coaches to a coaching staff that also includes Shawn Dirden, who just completed the first season of his second stint on the Bobcats bench.
“You’re always looking for new ideas and energy,” Huse said. “I’m approaching this off-season as an opportunity to evaluate and adjust and improve the program moving forward.”
Huse indicated that national searches for the two openings are underway.

Since 2008 (maybe 09) the list of those who have left is Brian Priebe, Carlnel Wiley (both were gone by 2010), Temesghenn Starr, George Pfiefer, Aerick Sanders and now Scott Carson. Carson was the longest tenured assistant, counting both years with MSU and total years. He was also an assistant and HC at Rocky Mountain in the 1980s.

[BelgradeBobcat]

We'll that's just GREAT!

This could really hurt our chances to barely qualify for the Big Sky tournament and then lose in the first round.

[mslacat]

This sucks! Normally I am a guy that says coaches leaving to take higher level programs is a good sign for the program. It is a natural state of affairs for a low major program that have developed quality assistant coaches, but in Sanders case we got nothing from him. An assistants first year is spent developing contacts and relationships. You usually do not see what type of coach/recruiter you have until his second year starts to pay dividends. In Sanders case it looked really promising he was making big time progress recruiting quite a number of promising prospects. Now they are all gone and we get to start again with not just on but two assistant coaches. lets hope Dirden brings his A game this year of it is a bleak future.

[duelalumnicat]

I think Coach Carson should be commended for his hard work and his many years of service to the program. I am not familiar with the inner workings of Coach Huse's staff, but it appeared to me, at least during home games, that Coach Carson was the calm voice of reason on the bench. Thank you, Coach Carson.

[John K]

I'm surprised that we've haven't already heard about any player defections. Is it possible that for once, we might actually get through the off-season without losing any players? If so (knock on wood), Huse better have a very good season next year, because he's never before had so many returning players/starters. Although I'm still not convinced that we won't lose at least one or two before the beginning of next season.

[LTown Cat]

I'm surprised that we've haven't already heard about any player defections. Is it possible that for once, we might actually get through the off-season without losing any players? If so (knock on wood), Huse better have a very good season next year, because he's never before had so many returning players/starters. Although I'm still not convinced that we won't lose at least one or two before the beginning of next season.

Budinich left--although not much of a surprise there...

[mslacat]

I'll thow a name out there for a new assistant. Bobby Howard

[ilovethecats]

i say no. i'd hate to see a former cat with a promising future be fired in a year when his head coach is gone....

would love to see him her under different circumstances in all honesty.

[MSU01]

i say no. i'd hate to see a former cat with a promising future be fired in a year when his head coach is gone....

would love to see him her under different circumstances in all honesty.

If Huse hasn't been fired yet and he was given a new two year deal, I highly doubt any new assistants would need to be too worried about losing their jobs after next season!

[Hawks86]

A thank you from Coach Sanders

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[wbtfg]

A thank you from Coach Sanders

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Very classy