Elijah Salley Team IMPACT Media Archive
Head coach Jamie Stevens announced a major addition to the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball program on Tuesday as the Yellowjackets partnered with Team IMPACT to welcome six-year-old Billings native Elijah Salley to the team.
Elijah joined the team during an honorary ceremony at Billings Clinic, in which he signed his letter of intent to become a Yellowjacket. He will join the team for practices, games, and team events as he receives treatment for cancer.
“As soon as my staff and I heard about Elijah we knew he would be a perfect addition to our men’s basketball program,” head coach Jamie Stevens said. “We were lucky that he was able to join us for our first day of practice. This is an awesome opportunity for our student-athletes and our staff to be a part of Elijah’s journey and to learn from a family like the Salleys.”
Elijah was paired with the ‘Jackets through the national non-profit organization Team IMPACT, whose mission is to pair children with severe diseases with college athletic teams. Through this partnership, the children gain strength and a sense of camaraderie, and are exposed to many of the valuable experiences that student-athletes regularly have.
Elijah has already made his way to Alterowitz Gym for practice and his teammates have visited him while he receives treatment at Billings Clinic.
“Elijah has been in the hospital for almost 14 days now and this team has been here every single day to encourage him, inspire him, and offer him some friendship,” Elijah’s mother Tara Salley said about Elijah’s new teammates.
“It’s been really nice to have some social interaction with the guys and Elijah,” his father Gabriel Salley added. “It gives him a little break in his routine and they’re a really nice group of kids. It has been really nice to have these guys as part of Elijah’s life.”
Elijah joins Sebastien, Easton, and Bria Koch as the third local child to be paired with the Yellowjackets. Sebastien has been with the men’s soccer program since the fall of 2014, while Bria joined MSUB’s softball team prior to the 2016 season.
“It is a very special day for our university as well as our men’s basketball program,” MSUB athletic director Krista Montague said. “I know our team will learn a lot about courage and perspective that you cannot get in the classroom. We are proud to continue our tradition of impacting the community in meaningful ways with the addition of Elijah and the Salley family.”
For more information on MSUB’s partnership with Team IMPACT, visit the Team IMPACT webpage on
MSUB’s website online here.
