Montana lost one of its basketball legends recently when Gene Espeland passed away Monday in Billings at the age of 92.
Local hoop fans remember Espeland as the man who coached the Great Falls High Bison to the state Class AA boys’ championship in 1976. He also guided the Billings Central boys to the state Class A title in 1996.
Espeland grew up in Westby and played college basketball at both Northern Montana College (now MSU-Northern) and Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings). He began his prep coaching career with stops at Forsyth, Circle and Glendive before taking over at Great Falls High in the late 1960s.
After stepping down from the Bison job, Espeland was an assistant coach under George Karl with the professional Montana Golden Nuggets for four years, then joined Karl at another Continental Basketball Association franchise in Albany, New York for five years.
After moving to Billings in the 1990s, he served two different terms as head coach of the Billings Central Rams. He was an active coach in his late 70s.
During his high school coaching career, Espeland won 468 games and was selected for the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Espeland also was an accomplished golfer and served several years as Great Falls High golf coach.
No formal funeral services are planned, but there will be a reception Sunday afternoon at 3 at West Park Village.
Author: Staff
Our Staff account is used to publish submitted content. If you have content that was published under this account, and wish to have your name as author, please contact us at (406) 952-3021
