Ken Bone resigns his Montana hoops job

Ken Bone, the rare individual who enjoyed basketball success as a Husky and a Cougar – not to mention a Falcon – is on the move again. A former Washington State and Seattle Pacific head coach and Washington and SPU assistant coach, Bone resigned as the associate head coach at Montana.

“I just want to pursue some other opportunities,” Bone told the Missoulian newspaper of Missoula. “I’ve been here a couple years. I’ve enjoyed it. But it’s time to look for something different.”

Bone, a Seattle native who spent two years at Montana after being fired by Washington State at the end of the 2013-14 season, showed interest in the head coaching job at the University of Portland that went to Terry Porter.

Bone, 57, said he may pursue another college head coaching position or a pro or college assistant’s job. He also may consider taking a break from coaching to spend time with other programs.

“There’s a chance I find something that really fits and it’s good,” Bone said. “There might be even a better chance that I don’t coach at all this year.”

Bone led Washington State to the 2011 National Invitation Tournament semifinals and the 2012 College Basketball Invitational finals. He posted an 80-86 record in five seasons with the Cougars, including 10-21 (3-15 Pac-12) his final year.

Bone headed to WSU after guiding Portland State to the only 23-win seasons and NCAA tournament appearances in school history in 2007-08 and 2008-09. He was hired at Portland State after helping Washington reach the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament in 2005.

Bone spent three years as a Washington assistant after compiling a 253-97 record in 12 seasons as Seattle Pacific’s head coach. Eight of Bone’s SPU teams played in the NCAA Division II tournament.

Bone, a Shorewood High School graduate, played two seasons at Seattle Pacific after playing one junior college season at both Shoreline and Edmonds. He later coached one season of JC ball at Olympic in Bremerton.