(Editor's note: Montana State University media release)
BOZEMAN -- Kati Burrows-Mobley, who has had a hand in five of Montana State’s six Big Sky Conference women’s basketball championships (two as a player and three as an assistant coach), announced Monday morning she is leaving the Bobcat program to accept a teaching position at Bozeman High School.
“We are so happy for Kati, her husband Justin and her beautiful new daughter Maya as this is a great opportunity for them and their family at this stage of their lives,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “I’m so thankful for all that Kati has done for the program and the incredible impact she has had on our student-athletes.”
At Montana State, Mobley played a major role in the development of the Bobcat post players -- most notably Peyton Ferris, Blaire Braxton and Madeline Smith. She also oversaw the team’s academic progress that produced 35 all-Big Sky Conference Academic honorees.
“Not everyone is given the opportunity to return to their alma mater to coach the sport they love,” Mobley said. “I couldn’t be more grateful that Coach Binford saw my potential to make an impact on the program. The opportunities this position has presented are countless. There is no doubt that I will miss the staff and team, but I’m eager for this new opportunity that has been presented to me and my family.”
If ever one had the Midas touch, it was Mobley. A 2000 graduate of Bozeman High School, Mobley led the Hawks to three Class AA state titles. She then accepted her only NCAA Division I offer to attend her hometown school where she helped the Bobcats to Big Sky championships in 2002 and 2003. The three-time all-Big Sky selection left MSU third on the all-time career scoring list and seventh in rebounding.
Following three seasons playing professional basketball overseas, Mobley started her coaching career as an assistant at Bozeman High School under Brad Rustan.
After one season with the Hawks, Mobley moved to the Phoenix area where she served as an assistant at Desert Ridge High School. She then moved on to national high school power St. Mary’s as an assistant and helped the Knights to two state titles and the 2012 National Championship. During her time at St. Mary’s she saw student-athletes move on to play at UConn, Washington, Louisville, UCLA and Michigan.
Mobley served as an assistant during the 2013-14 campaign at Dobson High School. She landed her first head coaching job at Maricopa High School and led the 2014-15 Rams to the Arizona Division 2 state title in her first season. For her efforts, Mobley was named the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year and the All-USA Arizona American Family Insurance Big School Coach of the Year, as well.
Mobley’s career is now headed North on 11th Street and back to the Red and Black where she began defining her basketball identity. Her legacy of basketball in the Gallatin Valley will come to fruition this winter when she is inducted into the Montana State Athletics Hall of Fame.
“Coach Mobley was a huge part of my success at MSU,” said Braxton, who along with Madeline Smith played in more games than any other Bobcats. “She helped me grow not just as an athlete, but as a young woman, too. I was incredibly blessed to have her coach me through my four years and I couldn’t imagine a better way to go through this program. She taught me how to play with all my heart and connect with everyone around me in different ways. I am so thankful for everything she has done for me and she will be a part of my life forever.”
