BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Athletic Department announced the next class of inductees into the Yellowjacket Hall of Fame and Distinction on Friday, in recognition of these individuals or group's contributions to the legacy of Yellowjacket Athletics.
The 2013-14 women's basketball team is set to be honored as a group at the ceremony, becoming the third team to be inducted into the hall of fame in department history. Alongside them, three individuals will be inducted: longtime Yellowjacket cross country and track & field coach Dave Coppock, and a pair of distinguished donors in Jody and Cyndy Desin.
 
"I'm truly excited for this induction class, and to have the opportunity to celebrate the great accomplishments and contributions of our inductee," said MSUB athletic director Michael Bazemore. "Early on in my career I had the opportunity to work with all of these individuals, and it brings a smile to my face being able to think back on those memories. I look forward to the ceremony as it's always a great time to celebrate our history and Yellowjackets Athletics overall!"
 
The 2013-14 MSUB women's basketball team still ranks as one of the most successful groups in both the department and program's histories to this day. With a team consisting of 15 players, all of whom were from Montana, the squad finished the year with an overall record of 25-8, along with a 15-3 in GNAC play to collect the department's first ever GNAC Championship after taking the regular season title. In postseason action, the Yellowjackets would advance on to the Sweet Sixteen and West Regional Championship of the NCAA Tournament. The team set a number of program records at the time, including total wins (28), conference wins (15), total points (2,426), three-pointers made (258), rebounds (1283), all records that remain top five in program history today. The team also put together one of the most impressive season full of individual accolades in school history, with Bobbi Knudsen being named GNAC Player of the Year, Janiel Olson receiving GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, Chelsea Banis earning GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and Kevin Woodin receiving his first of four GNAC Coach of the Year awards. Knudsen was also named a member of the West Region All-Tournament Team, joining Alisha Breen in receiving the honor. The program was also incredibly successful off the court, totaling a 3.66 team GPA to finish with the 6th highest GPA in the WBCA Academic Top 25 for that season.
 
"I was pleased to hear our 2013-2014 Yellowjacket Women's basketball team is being inducted into the MSUB Athletics Hall of Fame," said head coach Kevin Woodin "It is a well-deserved honor; they were an amazing group of young women who excelled on and off the court. That entire season was a special one. Our team fought through a lot of unplanned adversity during the season but continued to excel despite all of it. We had great leadership, awesome talent, and our depth was key to overcoming season ending injuries to two starters. Our team accomplished so much that year – GNAC champs, NCAA Sweet Sixteen, 6^th in the nation in GPA, 25 wins, etc. but it was the on and off the court team chemistry I will remember most. I'm excited to celebrate their induction with them."
 
 
The Yellowjacket's full 2013-14 roster is listed below, with a designation listed for those who have also been inducted to the Yellowjacket Hall of Fame and Distinction as individuals. The team was coached by Woodin, who was assisted by Nate Harris and Jenny Heringer:
 
Austin Hanser, Quinn Peoples, Courtney Henry, Britta Young, Alisha Breen*, Bobbi Knudsen*, Janiel (Olson) Begger*, Brandy Kumm, Monica Grimsrud, Chelsea Banis, Tenika Capouch, Annie DePuydt, Marissa Van Atta, Kayleen (Goggins) Schultz*, Kasie Christensen.
 
A legendary figure in the Billings running community, Dave Coppock is forever tied to the history of cross country and track & field at MSUB. Coppock arrived as a volunteer assistant in 1989, and assisted in the founding of the cross country as a sponsored sport at MSUB. He was the first head coach of the program, helping build both the men's and women's programs from the ground up. He would also be pivotal in reviving track & field at MSUB, helping reintroduce the program for the 2007-2008 season. Coppock would be a key figure in spearheading the effort to bring the NCAA DII West Region Cross Country Championships to Billings, helping the department host it's first ever Division II regional event when the department won the rights to host in 2014 for the first time. MSUB would also play host in 2016 under Coppock's tenure, and has gone on to host three more times in the past eight years (2018, 2022, 2024), where Coppock has continued to assist in the operation of the meet. Since stepping back from coaching, Dave and his wife Renee created the Dave and Renee Coppock Track & Field Cross Country Endowed Scholarship, starting with a groundbreaking $50,000 donation to attract and retain student-athletes in both programs, with the goal to grow the endowment to $100,000.
 
Under Coppock's guidance, MSUB produced 32 all-conference track performers, five all-region runners in cross country, 17 NCAA DII National Track & Field provisional qualifiers, two automatic qualifiers, and two NCAA appearances, ten conference champions, and a pair of U.S. Olympic marathon trial qualifiers. Both the men's and women's track teams produced a record number of all-conference and GNAC Champions during his tenure, along with a women's team championship in 2006 when MSUB was a member of the Heartland Conference. Coppock's teams over the years have placed as high as second in the Pacific West Conference (twice) and fifth in the NCAA West Region, along with having been ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation.
 
"I'm excited for Dave to be recognized and receive the honor of a hall of fame induction," said current MSUB cross country and track & field coach Jonathan Woehl, who was an assistant under Coppock in his time at MSUB. "Dave has contributed so much to the cross country and track and field programs in his time as a coach, and still remains involved as an incredible supporter of the program today."
 
Being inducted in the honor and distinction category, Jody and Cyndy Desin have been heavily involved in supporting the Billings community as a whole, while being steadfast supporters of both Yellowjacket Athletics and MSUB. Jody and Cyndy have frequently contributed to scholarship funds and various fundraising projects for MSUB Athletics. The pair can frequently be seen at Yellowjacket basketball games, with Jody often times shooting photos on the sidelines. Jody and Cyndy also have two sons who have been student-athletes at MSUB, with their son Matt being a member of the men's golf team, and other son Danny playing men's basketball for the 'Jackets.
 
I have known Jody and Cyndy Desin and their family for more than 30 years," said Woodin. "Their constant support of my MSUB women's basketball program, MSUB, and the entire Billings community is simply incredible. I am grateful for all they have done and their continued commitment to MSUB and beyond is much appreciated. Jody and Cyndy are special people who positively impact the lives of so many others through their donations and time. Congratulations to them and thank you for all you have done and will continue to do!"
 
The Yellowjacket Hall of Fame and Distinction class of 2026 will be inducted and recognized next year on Friday, February 20^th in a ceremony at the Double Tree Hotel, before being celebrated again the following evening between the men's and women's basketball games. To purchase tickets for the induction ceremony, please contact Hollie West at hollie.west@msubillings.edu, or by calling 406-896-5934.