By Bruce Sayler
Showing excitement and emotion, Jeff Graham welcomed Montana Tech head women’s basketball coach Wednesday as he was introduced to the public at a press conference at the school’s HPR Complex.
“I’m extremely excited to be here as Digger’s head coach,” he said on stage with Montana Tech athletic staff, players, cheerleaders and media inside the Hall of Fame across from Kelvin Sampson Court. where the Orediggers play their home game. “I want to thank (provost) Les Cook, (athletic director) Matt Stepan and the selection committee.”
Graham joked that he was immediately involved with Montana Tech sports because “I have a wife with the patience of Pam Green,” referring to retired Bob Green’s spouse, who still casts a long shadow over the school’s athletics a dozen years after the legendary Orediger football coach retired.
Graham previously served a highly successful coaching stint at Belt High School and emerged as the selection committee’s choice after considering more than 60 applicants for the position, Stepan said.
“Today is an exciting day to welcome the newest member of the Orediger community,” Stepan said. “I believe we have something special from here on out.”
Graham succeeds Carly Sanno, who led Montana Tech women’s hoops 2014-22 and left June 28 to become executive director of the Tongue River Valley Community Center in Dayton/Ranchester, Wyoming.
Graham said he and Sanon grew up together in Chester and remain friends.
“The coaching staff at Montana Tech sold us on it,” Graham said of his fellow residents of the HPER complex’s office spaces.
At times during his introduction, his voice cracked as he expressed his joy at getting off the Hi-Line and creating a new adventure for Grahams.
“I’m so emotional, I’m going to cry,” he said, trying to hold back his tears and smile. “The kids won’t let me speak on senior night.”
Graham had a 358-42 record in six state Class C championships at Belt and took the Huskies to Saturday night’s state tourney 11 times in their 16 years at the helm.
Stepan said the selection committee narrowed down a list of non-negotiable priorities when they went into the application pile. He said the non-negotiables include a proven track record of building a culture of success, a history of positive impact in the community, a high basketball IQ, a focus on player development, a character-based philosophy, the Montana Tech community and acceptance of Butte. “Culture of Strength” and “Our Department” fit. The latter involves enjoying the successes of other athletic programs and being willing to step up “when one goes down,” Stepan said.
“The applicants made our job difficult, and Coach Graham wasn’t the only one checking all the boxes,” Stepan said.
Stepan described the committee members as former player and current city council member Hattie Thatcher, men’s basketball head coach Adam Hiatt, director of marketing Amanda Badovinac, head football coach Kyle Samson and Montana Tech Foundation executive director Shannon Panisco.
“They turned over every rock and debated the candidates and debated me,” Stepan said. “And I’m sure they’ll continue to challenge Coach Graham.”
Graham enjoyed athletic success as a player at Montana Tech, Montana State-North, Carroll and Montana Western, and as an assistant coach, briefly at the University of Providence in Great Falls.
He said circumstances and coaching changes played a big role in his transition as an athlete to Frontier Conference programs.
The first success of the Oredigers Institute was achieved in 2010. Graham starred at Chester and is a third-generation coach as well as Belt’s head football coach for several seasons.
Graham’s wife, the former Megan Schmitz, was a Hall of Fame basketball player at Montana Western who was an All-American and the school’s all-time assists leader. She also coached cross country and track and basketball.
“We show grit, determination, and our ‘Butte Tough’ attitude carries over into the classroom and into life,” says Jeff Graham about the team’s makeup. “I train every day and we never take it for granted. I want to meet the Hyper Hooligans[the raucous Orediger student fans]and give Montana Tech the best home court advantage in the conference.”
“We bring energy every day. My goal in recruiting is to have a recruiting battle in the state, just like the football program here, to find athletes from out of state.
He said he would emphasize community involvement to the team members.
Graham said he thinks some of the things left in Belt’s system will work for him at the college level, but it will take time for him and his players to find what works for each other.
“We change what we do two or three times,” he said. “We’ll review and re-evaluate what we’re doing around Christmas.”
Graham said the Orediggers are a little undersized compared to conference opponents and “they want to get a couple of big kids, but I want to see the (Montana Tech) girls play first. I’m excited about what they’re going to do.”
He watched a video of the Oredigers meeting with them earlier in the week.
“If you believe in the kids, they will work for you,” Graham said. “Look at what Coach (Brian) Solomon (volleyball) and Coach Samson have done here.
“This is a dream come true. Butte has always had great sports and history, and we are thrilled to be here to begin our Butte life.”
