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The big picture (continued)
"It was good working with Larry (Krystkowiak)," Huse says, "and (the assistant coach experience) allowed me to look at things from a different perspective. I was able to catch my breath, in a way." In turn, Krystkowiak called Huse "a great person (who will be) a great head coach."
The Grizzlies compiled a 42-20 record, won the Big Sky Conference tournament each year Huse was there and won an NCAA Tournament game in 2006. So, when Huse's longtime friend Mick Durham retired at Montana State, he knew it was a position that appealed to him professionally while allowing the Huses to remain close to family in Missoula and Kelly's father, Dorick Sauvageau, in Bozeman.
Huse quickly brought an energy and structure to the Bobcat program that mirrors his own personality and athletic career -- he was second team all-state at Missoula Big Sky, and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American at Montana Tech. The Bobcats responded with an 8-8 finish in league play during his first season. In 2007-08 the Bobcats earned non-league wins over Oregon State and Wyoming and thumped Montana.
As Huse builds the Bobcat program, he remains involved in the fight against cancer.
"I'm the result of technology and medicine and research and somebody's donation to the fight from years ago," he says of his volunteering with such groups as Coaches vs. Cancer and speaking for cancer benefits. "Raising awareness of the fight is very important."
And while his battle with cancer may no longer be foremost in his thoughts, neither is it forgotten.
"There were a lot of nights I was on chemo and couldn't sleep, and I'd sit in the living room looking at (his sons') pictures on the wall thinking, 'Man, I want to spend a lot of years with (them).'
"I'm getting the chance to do that now, and it's a great experience, an incredible experience, having been through what I've been through."
He pauses.
"To see these guys grow up and be a part of it...I'm not taking that for granted."
> Spring 2008 Contents
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