Those familiar with University of Montana men’s basketball will recognize the fellow in the huddle of the Lady Yellowjackets basketball team this year. Jordan Hasquet is the new coach for the Stevensville girls’ basketball team.
From his earliest years, he was in the gym. His father, Pete, was the Missoula Sentinel girls’ basketball team and Hasquet tagged along. His mother, Doris, was a basketball player, and his aunt, Karen Deden, is the current coach at Sentinel. His siblings all played as well so it’s no surprise that basketball ruled in the family. His grandfather, Bob, played for the Grizzlies from 1947-50. His dad played under Mike Montgomery at the university. Larry Krystkowiak was a close personal friend of the family and spent time at the family home.
At 6’9”, Hasquet graduated from Missoula Sentinel in 2004.Hasquet went on to start for the Griz. He took a red shirt year his first year but then earned the starting position under then Krystkowiak who was now the head coach. Hasquet says one of the highlights of his college career was when the Grizzlies defeated No. 5 Nevada in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Salt Lake City where Krytkowiak played for the Utah Jazz and he’s now the coach there.
After graduation, Hasquet went on to play overseas. He first played in Cyprus for a season. Next was Germany and then Finland. His final two years were spent in Luxemburg where he was able to do some substitute teaching also. Each team was only allowed two American players. The Americans are considered professionals and make ‘pretty decent’ money. The rest of the teams have Europeans on them and most have to have a second job. Hasquet said it was nice to be able to have something to do in his down time. However, the downside for the Americans is that if they are not producing wins, they are cut right away so there is a lot of pressure to perform.
In May of 2016, Hasquet’s team won it all in the Total League and so he decided this was the time to return home. He had always planned on teaching and after a brief stay in Arizona, returned to Montana with his wife Lauren. The couple currently lives in Missoula.
Hasquet has a very young team this year. Makayla Davids is his only senior and there are only 19 players out. He’s starting from the ground up and occasionally has to be reminded by assistant coach Bill Fulbright to use basketball terms these players are used to and ‘speak at their level.’ He said Fulbright has been a great help, as has Andrea Mooney.
“I’m looking forward to the season,” he concluded.