Stone Named New MSUB Softball Coach (7/3/07)

BILLINGS, Mont. – Dr. Gary Gray, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Montana State University Billings, announced Tuesday that Tony Stone has been hired as the school’s new head softball coach.  Stone, previously an assistant to the Yellowjackets, becomes the program’s fourth coach

“We are excited that Coach Stone has accepted our offer to become the next head softball coach at MSU Billings,” said Gray.  “His knowledge in recruiting Montana student-athletes as well as those from the northwest region of the country will serve MSUB well.  In addition, his expertise in hitting and overall offensive strategies will be very beneficial to the team.  I am confident Coach Stone will have a great first year at MSU Billings as we head into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.”

Stone has been the head coach at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Wash., for the past two seasons.  At Big Bend he took his team from12-24 in 2005 to 22-15 in 2006.  With his success Stone was named the 2006 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Eastern Division Coach of the Year. 

“I am very excited for this opportunity,” said Stone.  “It is something I have wanted for a very long time.  With the progression that MSU Billings softball has made and with the move into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this season, I think it is a great fit for me and the Yellowjackets.  I know most of the players on the team, and I am looking forward to working with them.  They are good students and good athletes, and I am very thankful to be a part of this program.”

Stone was an assistant at MSUB from 2000 to 2005 and in his time with the Yellowjackets he assisted in leading the team to multiple conference and national team rankings.  His ties to the Billings community run deep.  Stone has been an assistant coach of the Magic City Havoc Softball Club where they were the ASA State Champions in 2004.  He has also had involvement with The Hitter’s Club, Inc. and Little League fastpitch in Billings.

Stone, originally from Billings, served a four-year enlistment as a supplies specialist in the United State Air Force.  Based in Clovis, N.M. from 1992 to 1996, Stone returned to Billings and earned his Bachelors of Art in Organizational Communications in 2002 from MSUB.  Continuing at Montana State Billings, Stone completed his Masters of Science in Sport Management in 2005.  He served as the graduate assistant for athletics marketing during the 2004-2005 academic year.

The Yellowjackets were 26-24 this season and posted a 10-5 mark in the Heartland Conference.  The team graduated four seniors following a trip to the conference tournament.  The Yellowjackets fell 7-5 in the loser-out bracket against Incarnate Word in 13 innings, the longest game in school history.  The Jackets now look forward to competition in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Six other schools sponsor softball including Central Washington, Western Washington, Western Oregon, Saint Martin’s, Seattle University, and Northwest Nazarene.