Former Montana State coach Stu Starner dies at 81

The cause of Starner’s death has not been disclosed. Sources told 406 MT Sports that he had been battling cancer in recent years.

“RIP Coach Starner and prayers to the Starner family,” expressed MSU athletic director Leon Costello on Twitter. “A Bobcat legend, great mentor, and friend to everyone associated with @MSUBobcats. I will miss our conversations and seeing you in the stands. Thank you for listening and constant advice. You will be missed.”

Starner, born on April 8, 1943 in Hoffman, Minnesota, graduated from the University of Minnesota Morris in 1965. He coached at the high school level during the 1960s and 70s, before eventually joining MSU as an assistant coach in 1979.

Starner became the head coach at MSU in 1983. Under his leadership, the Bobcats achieved a historic victory in 1985-86 by beating rival Montana in the Big Sky tournament title game, becoming the first team to reach the NCAA Tournament with a losing record. That season, Starner was recognized as the Big Sky coach of the year.

In the following season, MSU excelled with a 12-2 conference play record and won the Big Sky regular-season title. The team ended the season with a 21-8 overall record and secured a spot in the NIT.

“Our claim to fame is that we proved you could win at basketball at Montana State University,” Starner shared with 406 MT Sports in March.

Starner continued to lead MSU to above .500 finishes in two of the next three seasons, including a notable 17-12 campaign in 1989-90. After the 1989-90 season, Starner left Bozeman and Mick Durham took over as head coach.

In 1990, Starner planned to take a sabbatical year but ended up coaching at the University of Texas at San Antonio for four seasons. The team won the 1990-91 Southland Conference title under his guidance.

Starner then retired from coaching and returned to Bozeman in 1998 to be with his daughter, Sue, who was facing health issues due to diabetes. Unfortunately, Sue passed away three months after Starner and his wife, Barb, moved back to Bozeman.

Over the years, Starner held various roles in different universities before retiring and settling back in Bozeman in 2014, where he spent most of the year. He was actively involved with MSU men’s basketball summer workouts and maintained communication with the Bobcat coaching staffs.

“RIP Coach Starner,” shared MSU head coach Matt Logie on Twitter. “You embraced us from day one last spring and encouraged us every step of the way. You gave so much to so many and lived a life of IMPACT. The Bobcat [basketball] Family will miss you and send our prayers to your loved ones and family.”

Starner was also part of the selection committee that hired Danny Sprinkle, who now coaches the Washington Huskies.

“RIP Coach Stu Starner,” Sprinkle wrote on Twitter. “Thank you for being YOU! Your wisdom, energy for life, and helping others will live on forever. I will miss our conversations about coaching and I am so thankful to have known you and called you a friend. God Bless #CoachStarner #GoCatsGo”