Lady Jackets Stay Close to Home for New Coach (July 23, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Dr. Gary Gray, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Montana State University-Billings, announced today that the school has hired Kevin Woodin as its eleventh women’s basketball coach.  He replaces Melissa Slone, who resigned on July 2.

“I am really looking forward to the challenge of leading the Yellowjacket basketball program,” said Woodin.  “Coaching at the collegiate level has been a goal of mine since I had the opportunity to work with the program from 2000 to 2003.  I am excited that this opportunity arose for me in Billings.  I am appreciative of my 10 years in this community and the overwhelming support I have received.  I look forward to directing a program in which this area can be proud.” (scroll below photo gallery to read more)

Woodin has been the head girl’s basketball coach at Billings West High School for the past ten seasons.  In that time, he has led the Lady Bears to a 138-81 record (.630), including back-to-back Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004.  Woodin’s Bears were a perfect 23-0 in last year’s title run and have won their last 36 games dating back to the 2002-2003 season.  He earned Montana AA Coach of the Year honors in 2003 and 2004, and was a finalist for the award in 1999 and 2002.

“We are thrilled that Kevin has accepted our offer to coach our women’s basketball team,” said Dr. Gray.  “He was one of the top candidates for the job last year, and we feel fortunate that he is still available this year.  Kevin has proven that he is an exceptional coach and a great teacher, and we believe he will be a perfect fit for our program.  The players respect him, and the staff really enjoyed working with him in the past as a former assistant under Coach Karyn Ridgeway.”

A native of Libby, Mont., Woodin graduated with a degree in mathematics from Carroll College in 1987.  While teaching and coaching at O’Dea High School in Seattle, he earned his masters degree in Athletic Administration from Seattle Pacific University in 1992.  Woodin taught mathematics at O’Dea High School from 1987 to 1994 while also coaching boy’s basketball, golf and tennis.  He was named O’Dea’s Outstanding Teacher of the year in 1990-1991 and the Metro League Golf Coach of the Year four times.

Woodin moved to Billings in 1994 to take over the girl’s program at West High School where he has also taught mathematics.   Along with leading the Lady Bears to State AA tournament hardware in four of the past six seasons, Woodin has also been an assistant coach on the Montana All-Star Team and an Executive Committee member and coach for the Treasure State Classic.

Before the Montana High School Association moved the girl’s basketball season to the winter, Woodin was a part time assistant coach at MSU Billings from 2000-2003.  Responsible for practice and game planning, recruiting, scouting, individual skill development, travel and coordinating the Billings Bees camps, Woodin helped the Lady Yellowjackets to two NCAA Tournament appearances in three seasons.

“Kevin’s contributions as an assistant coach here for three years were substantial,” added Dr. Gray.  “He was an instrumental part of three very good Lady Yellowjacket teams, including two teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.  He has shown that he’s very skilled at preparing a team to compete, and I think he will prove to be an outstanding college recruiter and coach.”

Woodin will take over a Yellowjacket program that was 16-11 last year and narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament.  Four starters from last year’s team will return for the 2004-2005 season, led by All-West Region selection Robyn Milne (6-3 Sr., Richey, Mont.).  Also returning are leading scorer Tanya Petersen (6-0 Jr., Billings, Mont.), leading 3-point shooter Jenny Langford (5-6 Jr., Reedpoint, Mont.) and guard Jennifer Skrifvars (5-9 So., Brea, Calif.).

The Yellowjackets will have a 14-game home schedule, one more home contest than they had in their final year as a member of the 12-team PacWest Conference.  The schedule includes games against top West Region teams like Western Washington, Central Washington, Grand Canyon, Chico State, and Northwest Nazarene as well as a home-and-home series against North Dakota State.

“I’m really excited to get started,” said Woodin.  “This program has a great tradition of developing great student-athletes both on and off the court, and I look forward to continuing that mission.  Three key ingredients to success this year will be Robyn, Jenny and Tanya, and I feel fortunate that I’ve worked with them in the past.  They represent the type of quality student-athletes that define our program, and I look forward to finalizing the roster in the near future." 

Woodin’s Career

1994-2004 – Head Girl’s Basketball Coach/Mathematics Teacher, Billings West High School

• 138-81 overall record
• AA State Championships, 2003 and 2004
• Current 36-game winning streak
• AA State placer in four of last six seasons
• AA Coach of the Year, 2003 and 2004
• AA Coach of the Year Finalist, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004

1987-1994 – Assistant Boy’s Basketball Coach/Head Golf Coach/Mathematics Teacher, O’Dea High School

• 1990-91 Outstanding Teacher of the Year
• Metro League Golf Coach of the Year, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

1996-2000 – Treasure State Classic Executive Committee Member

1996-2000, 2003-2004 – Treasure State Classic Coach

2003-2004 – Assistant Coach, Montana-Wyoming All-Star Series

1992 – Masters of Science in Athletics Administration, Seattle Pacific University

1987 – Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, Carroll College

Personal

Date of Birth:  November 20, 1963
Family:  Married 16+ years to Paula Kay Roos
              Children Kayleen (10), Toria (8) and Garrett (6)