Tinkle named men's hoop coach at Montana
6/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Wayne Tinkle has been named the 26th head basketball coach of the men's team at The University of Montana, announced UM Athletic Director Jim O'Day at an on-campus news conference this morning.
Tinkle replaces Larry Krystkowiak, who had a two-year record of 42-20 at Montana and was the only coach in school history to guide the Grizzlies to two straight NCAA tournament appearances. Krystkowiak left UM to take an assistant coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Larry has brought respect back to Grizzly basketball and for that we will be forever grateful," O'Day said. "He was passionate in the way he coached and for The University of Montana, and that was evidenced in the way our team played. We knew that we could only keep Larry so long. He's a very talented individual and will always be sought after. I don't believe this is his last stop and that some day we will see him in the NBA as a head coach like his mentor, Griz coach Mike Montgomery, who is now the head man for the Golden State Warriors. We wish him and his family all the best."
Wayne has been an assistant coach at his alma mater the previous five seasons. He served as an assistant coach last season for Krystkowiak, two years with former mentor Pat Kennedy (2002-04), and one season with Don Holst (2001-02).
Tinkle, 40, played for the Grizzlies from 1985-89 and was a three-time Big Sky Conference all-league selection from his sophomore through his senior seasons.
"We are very fortunate to have someone like Wayne Tinkle waiting in the wings," O'Day said. "For the past several years he's been a stable rock on our staff. As we've gone through some coaching changes he has been the one constant and will give him an opportunity to show his talents.
"He's played a big part in recruiting the players that we currently have here, and I know he's going to continue to stay focused in that area," O'Day said. "He's a great person, a family man, and I know that he will be an outstanding coach for us at Montana."
Tinkle is ranked among Montana's all-time scorers and rebounders. He is fifth in career points and fourth in rebounds with 1,500 points and 836 rebounds, respectively. He is also ranked among the Big Sky's career leaders in those two categories.
He was Montana's Carl Dragstedt Award (MVP) winner in 1988 and 1989. His senior year he averaged 17.1 points a game, the eighth highest single-season average ever at UM.
After Wayne's college career, he advanced on to the professional ranks and played at that level for 12 seasons, until 2000.
He played in the Continental Basketball League in Topeka, Kansas, and finished the year playing in Venezuela. In his professional career he played in the CBA, and in Sweden, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Prior to returning to UM as an assistant coach, Tinkle played his final four seasons in Spain from 1995-99, where he ranked among the league's top scorers and rebounders.
He missed the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons with injuries and retired after playing briefly in the IBL in Las Vegas.
"I can't express how excited I am to have the opportunity," Tinkle said. "During my playing days we could have picked anywhere to live, and we always came back to Missoula. We love the city and the state, and we wanted to be around the program. To now be able to run the program, along with my staff, is a dream come true.
"I've had a hand in recruiting every player that is on the roster, as well as the incoming players, and that will help with the transition," Tinkle said. "Our players are excited about the direction we are heading. I am humbled and proud to pick up the torch, and we're not going to lose any momentum."
Wayne was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is the youngest of 11 children (seven girls and four boys). He is a 1984 graduate of Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington.
He received his degree in Health and Human Performance from UM in 2005.
He married former Lady Griz basketball star Lisa McLeod. Wayne and Lisa have three children: daughters Joslyn (15) and Elleson (12), and son Tres (10).
Tinkle replaces Larry Krystkowiak, who had a two-year record of 42-20 at Montana and was the only coach in school history to guide the Grizzlies to two straight NCAA tournament appearances. Krystkowiak left UM to take an assistant coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Larry has brought respect back to Grizzly basketball and for that we will be forever grateful," O'Day said. "He was passionate in the way he coached and for The University of Montana, and that was evidenced in the way our team played. We knew that we could only keep Larry so long. He's a very talented individual and will always be sought after. I don't believe this is his last stop and that some day we will see him in the NBA as a head coach like his mentor, Griz coach Mike Montgomery, who is now the head man for the Golden State Warriors. We wish him and his family all the best."
Wayne has been an assistant coach at his alma mater the previous five seasons. He served as an assistant coach last season for Krystkowiak, two years with former mentor Pat Kennedy (2002-04), and one season with Don Holst (2001-02).
Tinkle, 40, played for the Grizzlies from 1985-89 and was a three-time Big Sky Conference all-league selection from his sophomore through his senior seasons.
"We are very fortunate to have someone like Wayne Tinkle waiting in the wings," O'Day said. "For the past several years he's been a stable rock on our staff. As we've gone through some coaching changes he has been the one constant and will give him an opportunity to show his talents.
"He's played a big part in recruiting the players that we currently have here, and I know he's going to continue to stay focused in that area," O'Day said. "He's a great person, a family man, and I know that he will be an outstanding coach for us at Montana."
Tinkle is ranked among Montana's all-time scorers and rebounders. He is fifth in career points and fourth in rebounds with 1,500 points and 836 rebounds, respectively. He is also ranked among the Big Sky's career leaders in those two categories.
He was Montana's Carl Dragstedt Award (MVP) winner in 1988 and 1989. His senior year he averaged 17.1 points a game, the eighth highest single-season average ever at UM.
After Wayne's college career, he advanced on to the professional ranks and played at that level for 12 seasons, until 2000.
He played in the Continental Basketball League in Topeka, Kansas, and finished the year playing in Venezuela. In his professional career he played in the CBA, and in Sweden, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Prior to returning to UM as an assistant coach, Tinkle played his final four seasons in Spain from 1995-99, where he ranked among the league's top scorers and rebounders.
He missed the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons with injuries and retired after playing briefly in the IBL in Las Vegas.
"I can't express how excited I am to have the opportunity," Tinkle said. "During my playing days we could have picked anywhere to live, and we always came back to Missoula. We love the city and the state, and we wanted to be around the program. To now be able to run the program, along with my staff, is a dream come true.
"I've had a hand in recruiting every player that is on the roster, as well as the incoming players, and that will help with the transition," Tinkle said. "Our players are excited about the direction we are heading. I am humbled and proud to pick up the torch, and we're not going to lose any momentum."
Wayne was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is the youngest of 11 children (seven girls and four boys). He is a 1984 graduate of Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington.
He received his degree in Health and Human Performance from UM in 2005.
He married former Lady Griz basketball star Lisa McLeod. Wayne and Lisa have three children: daughters Joslyn (15) and Elleson (12), and son Tres (10).
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