GREAT FALLS — The Montana Coaches Association announced it’s 2019 Hall of Fame Class on Monday evening. The three inductees are Bob Howard, Paul Edwards and the late Terry Bakken.
The induction ceremony will be a part of the 11:30 a.m. MCA Awards Ceremony (in conjunction with the MCA Coaches Clinic), on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in the Great Falls CMR High School Auditorium. Family and friends are invited. All attendees are invited to a complimentary luncheon in the cafeteria immediately following the ceremony.
Bios of each inductee are below, courtesy of the MCA:
2019 MCA Hall of Fame Inductees
Terry Bakken
Terry Bakken coached 39 years at various schools in Class C ranks. Over the years he headed up several sports, but basketball is Terry where is best remembered. He served as head hoops mentor for 36 years (25 boys’ seasons and 26 girls’ seasons). During those years Bakken notched a remarkable 555 victories, 219 with the boys and 336 with the girls, as well as five Conference Championships, seven district titles, five divisional crowns, one state championship with Flaxville in 1979, a runner-up and a 3rd place state finish.
Coach Bakken was a 3-time MCA Coach of the Year nominee and a one-time winner. He headed up the Girls Treasure State Classic team for 12 years, coached the boys at the Electric City Classic and worked numerous tournaments, camps and track and field meets over the years.
Terry passed away in February of 2019, leaving a legacy of outstanding service. He will be greatly missed by the coaching community.
Paul Edwards
Coach Edward’s coaching career spans 32 years, with all but six at Columbus High School. Prior to his 26 years at Columbus he served a five-year stint at Reed Point, where he was head mentor for Boys’ Basketball and Track & Field, and one year at Beaverhead County High. Paul was an assistant Football coach for 26 years, head Boys’ Basketball for four seasons, head Golf coach for 21 years and a six-year AD. While assisting football, as the defensive coordinator, his Cougars played for the state championship 6 times, winning 3 titles. During his time as boys’ basketball assistant they played in two title contests, winning one.
It was in Golf that “Duke” had his greatest success, starting the program that would set an MHSA record, winning 5 consecutive State Championships. Paul was voted MCA Coach of the Year 4 times and has been an MCA member for 45 years. He served as District and Divisional President, directed District and Divisional Basketball tournaments and worked many track and field district and divisional meets. Although retired, Paul is still actively involved in Columbus athletics.
Bob Howard
Bob Howard has coached Basketball for 37 years, all but one in Montana. He is currently the head boys coach at Great Falls High. His career has included stints at the AA, A, B and C levels of Montana schools. He has served as a head basketball coach for 32 years and has also assisted 10 seasons in track & field and 16 years on the football field. Bob’s Basketball teams have notched 323 boys basketball wins and 183 girls basketball wins for a total of 506 victories. Along the way his teams have captured eight conference titles, five district crowns, two state championships, one second place finish and two third place finishes.
A 32-year MCA member and current MCA Class AA Director, Coach Howard, has been an MCA COY nominee 4 times and a one-time recipient and was a 2018 NHSACA Finalist for National COY. Bob has coached the Electric City Classic, the Central Montana All-State Classic and the Radisson Classic. For 15 years he has worked both Divisional and State Track meets and served 15 years as the MHSA AA Basketball Committee Chairman.
