Bruce Chavka enters into his third season as Assistant Coach for the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team.
In 2024-25, the Yellowjackets had yet another historic season, making it back to the GNAC Tournament where they secured their first postseason win since 2012 with a dramatic 79-78 comeback victory over WWU, capped by a half-court buzzer-beater from Jajuan Tot. Under the help of his leadership, MSUB notched its third consecutive 20-win season — a feat the program last achieved from 1984 to 1987. Chavka helped coach notable players like First Team All-GNAC honoree Kael Robinson, who later transferred to Northern Kentucky University using his NCAA Division I Extension of Eligibility Waiver, and Second Team All-GNAC selection Jalen Tot, who used the same waiver to transfer to Appalachian State.
The 2023-24 season was a historic season for the Yellowjackets. The crowning was GNAC conference champions as well as earning the #3 seed for the NCAA West Region Tournament. Their were numersous individual awards including, Steven Richardson earned GNAC Defensive player of the Year and All-GNAC Honorable Mention, Daniel Moody was named GNAC Newcomer of the Year and All-GNAC First team, and Zharon Richmond was named All-GNAC Honorable Mentio. Jalen Tot took the cake winning West Region Player of the Year, GNAC Player of the year, and was named All-GNAC First Team. Additionally, head coach Luke Fennelly claimed NABC West Region Coach of the Year and GNAC Coach of the Year.
Coach Chavka comes to MSUB from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College where he served for four years as the assistant men’s basketball coach/director of student activities. Coach Chavka’s first season with the Norseman he assisted in helping the Norse to a 27-7 overall record and a 14-2 conference record. The 2018-19 team won the OCAC conference, the Region Two Tournament, and qualified for the prestigious NJCAA National tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
During his second season (2019-2020), Coach Chavka was vital in assisting the Norsemen to back-to-back OCAC conference titles, going 15-1 in conference play and 25-7 overall. The sophomores from that team went 29-2 in two years of conference play and went undefeated in two years at home, going 23-0.
Coach C was responsible for scouting, recruiting, player development, scheduling, player academics, strength training and basketball camps for the Norsemen. Coach Chavka was fortunate to coach numerous NJCAA First, Second, and Third team All-Americans while at NEO A&M.
Coach Chavka served as the head coach at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon where he was named the NWAC Southern Region Coach of the year in 2012. Coach Chavka has over 20 years of coaching/teaching experience. Prior to his time in Oregon, he was the head basketball coach at Napa Valley Community College in California.
The Colorado native is a graduate of Western Colorado University where he served as an assistant coach to the late Fred Litzenberger and Bob Hofman. Coach C also served as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, as well as the assistant basketball coach and head men's golf coach at Lamar Community College in Colorado. Coach C also served as a graduate assistant at University of Northern Colorado.
Coach C is a proud product of the community college system, as he attended Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado.
Coach Chavka has been fortunate to travel and coach in China on two separate occasions (2014, 2016) where he coached a team of post-graduate collegiate players. His team competed against teams from around the world through Net-Scouts basketball.
Coach C holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology, a BA degree in History, and a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Concordia University.
Coach Chavka is the proud father of a daughter, Hadley.
Fun Facts about Coach Chavka
Players recruited and coached at Lane Community College:
Keynan Middleton: enters into his 7th year in MLB currently with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kylor Kelley: who transferred to Oregon State University and broke the all-time blocks record in two years at OSU. Kylor played last season in the NBA G league (Celtics) and in the NBA summer league this past summer (Thunder) Kylor signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cyrus Hostetler: Was a two time Olympian (Javelin).
Players recruited and coached at NEO A&M Community College
Samkelo Cele: played this past summer in the NBA summer league (Knicks).
Jonathan Mogbo: was drafted in the NBA draft last summer by the Toronto Raptors. He was the first pick of the 2nd round. Jonathan played in the NBA summer league.
Lamar Community College
Coached the men’s golf team to the NJCAA National Tournament.
