Career Resume
Known for an electrifying no-look pass
Owns school career assists record and nearly doubles next highest mark for career assists (805)
Set school record for 16 assists in one game
Played on two conference championship teams and two NCAA Tournament teams
Feature Story: MSUB Coach Looking to Re-Connect with Yellowjackets' Past (By: Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette, 12/28/2011) - Original Publication
Black and gold or blue and gold, Jamie Stevens is color blind.
And he doesn't care if your jersey said Eastern Montana College or Montana State Billings.
Because no matter what the color scheme or the name, Stevens is going back in the past for one common thread.
He's seeking former Yellowjackets.
The first-year head coach at MSUB wants to build a permanent bridge between past and present men's basketball players.
"I want to get as many alumni involved as we can with the current program,'' said Stevens, a former Yellowjacket player himself. "I want the former players to have some ownership in the current program."
Working with the alumni office, Stevens estimates he has contact information for between 50 and 60 former players. "With the new technology, it's easier to get in touch with former players,'' he said. "And I know a lot more are out there."
Stevens has also visited local high schools and other public functions to touch base with those who played for the Yellowjackets. He mentioned already meeting with Curt Brott and Kas Ioane, two former EMC standouts.
"These guys were on some of the best teams that ever played here,'' said Stevens. "I just want to get in touch with as many guys as I can. I want to go as far back as I can. I want the guys here now to connect with past players."
Stevens' quest takes on added urgency as this season is the 25th anniversary of the 1986-87 EMC team that advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
"That's probably the greatest team that's ever played here,'' said Stevens.
To get the ball rolling, literally, Stevens brought back the alumni game this season. This year's alumni team featured three players who rank among the top 10 in career scoring -- Titus Warmsley, Mark Hamilton and Buddy Windy Boy -- along with Chris Herriford and Jerett Skrifvars, who rank 11th and 12th, respectively. Windy Boy is also third for career 3-pointers, while Hamilton is fourth. Herriford is still the program's all-time leader for blocked shots.
"It was fun to see those guys from the past,'' said Stevens. "A lot of those guys were my former teammates."
The younger Yellowjackets won 104-82, but their predecessors showed that some skills never fade. Hamilton finished with an alumni-best 28 points, while Skrifvars added 21.
"Jerett, he's in such great shape, he could get up and down the floor with us right now,'' Stevens said. "And while Mark might not be in the greatest shape (laughs), he still does what he does best: Shoot the basketball. I had a feeling Mark would get a hot hand and he did. Any time Mark shoots the ball, it surprises me when it doesn't go in."
However, two names were notably absent from the alumni roster: Stevens and Brent Montague, the current compliance director for the MSUB athletic program. Both are MSUB Hall of Famers. Stevens remains the career leader for assists and steals.
"Brent said he burned his shoes. And when you become a coach, you tend to retire early,'' Stevens said with a loud laugh.
"It would be hard for me to get on my players about not getting into a defensive stance and I don't do it. My players don't need any more ammunition.
"You get excited for the alumni game. It gets the juices flowing. We plan to do this every year."
Alumni, time to dust off those Chuck Taylors.
