Montana State Billings Announces Frank McCarthy Women’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings Director of Athletics, Dr. Gray Gray, announced that the MSUB Foundation has started the Frank McCarthy Women’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship. 

This scholarship will be awarded annually to a current MSUB women’s basketball player who meets certain academic and athletic criteria. 

The idea for the scholarship came from former players, friends and family of former MSUB women’s basketball coach Frank McCarthy.  They have exceeded $10,000 in pledges and donations to get the scholarship started. 

McCarthy was the women’s basketball coach for the Yellowjackets from 1989-1999 where he compiled a 191-91 record and a 64-34 conference record. His wins overall and conference are the top two in school history.  McCarthy guided the Yellowjackets to the Pacific West Conference division and tournament title in 1999 and led the team to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.  Throughout his tenure,
McCarthy led the Yellowjackets to four conference titles and five trips to the NCAA Tournament. 

During the 1998-99 season, McCarthy and the Yellowjackets tallied a 25-6 record overall and a 12-2 mark in the Pac West.  The 25 victories tied the school record for wins and the team had a school-record .833 winning percentage.  McCarthy was Far West Coach of the Year.  MSUB beat current GNAC rivals, Alaska Fairbanks and Western Washington to win the Pac West Tournament and then defeated Western Washington again and current Division I member, UC Davis to win the Division II West Regional.

The 1998-99 MSUB women’s basketball team was inducted in the MSUB Hilton Garden Inn Yellowjacket Hall of Fame and Distinction Feb. 20, 2009.  The team is just the second full team to be inducted since the Hall of Fame began in 1990.

For more information and to contribute, please contact the MSUB Foundation at (406) 657-2244 or the MSUB Athletic Department at (406) 657-2061.