Sullivan accepts position at Utah

Jordan Sullivan, whose family ties to the Lady Griz basketball program go back decades, has accepted an assistant coaching position at Utah and will join the Utes staff next week.

Sullivan, who played for Montana from 2010-11 to 2013-14, was an assistant coach with the Lady Griz the last five seasons.

"I'm so grateful to have gotten to work at this amazing place and be surrounded by supportive people," she said. "That makes it hard to leave.

"From the players to the staff to the department to the community, how do you not feel sadness to leave such an amazing place like Montana? Those feelings mean it was really awesome to be here."

Besides playing professionally overseas for two years after graduation, the position at Utah will be her first basketball experience outside of the Lady Griz program.

"To see where coaching is going to take me and what I want out of this career, I had to take a look at an opportunity like this," said Sullivan.

"That's why I was willing to take a leap and leave a place I love, a place that's only been good to me and will always be home."

She joins a program in the same league that Lady Griz coach Brian Holsinger knows well. He spent eight seasons at Washington State, five more at Oregon State.

Before that he was an assistant at The Master's College and for two years was the head coach at Montana Tech.

"I've had multiple experiences and each one added to me becoming the coach I am," said Holsinger. "My job as a head coach is to encourage and to teach and to help my assistants in their careers."

Holsinger will move forward with a staff of Nate Harris and Joslyn Tinkle and a new assistant to be hired at a later time.

"Brian and his entire staff were only supportive and helpful and want the best for me, and that's what made it hard to leave, because you know you're leaving really good people," said Sullivan.

"The Lady Griz are in great hands and are headed in a great direction."

Keeping Sullivan on the Lady Griz coaching staff was Holsinger's first move after he was hired in April 2021.

"Jordan is a special individual, someone who is hard working and has the highest character," he said. "We adore Jordan and wish her nothing but the best.

"Her contributions to this program, first as a player and then as a coach, cannot be overstated. She will forever be a Lady Griz."

University of Montana Athletics

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