Hungry Horse News

Coach. Mentor. Friend.Father.

Columbia Falls girls basketball coaching legend Larry Schmautz died Saturday. He was 62.

Schmautz started teaching in Columbia Falls in 1969. He began coaching as an assistant under Ralph Johnson. Schmautz then took over the Columbia Falls girls program in 1976.

From 1980 he had 14 state basketball tournament appearances, a first, second and two third place finishes, eight divisional championships, including six in a row up until his coaching retirement in 1995.

Schmautz had 327 total victories and 121 losses. Forty of his players were named all-conference. Twenty five were named all-state. He also coached track and had six divisonal titles and took second in state in 1987. He retired from teaching in 1994.

In 1983 he coached the Kats to a state AA title, beating Helena. The Kats came out of the divisional tourney that year on a low note. They were favorite going in, but just squeaked out a fourth-place finish.

Coming back to win the state tourney was a tribute to Schmautz's coaching acumen.

"His (motivational) speeches just hit you in the heart," said Robin Allen Barnhart, who played for Schmautz on the 1983 championship team. "He was really gifted."

Barnhart said Schmautz was the "perfect high school coach."

He'd chew you out, but he wasn't a "yeller and a screamer … you put on that uniform and he told you what being a Wildcat meant."

After one of his speeches, "you'd run through a brick wall for him."

That meant winning off the court as well as on the court, she said. That meant getting good grades and working toward a positive future. Working toward the ultimate goal of being a positive human being.

"He was a teacher, a coach a mentor … he epitomized what I would want to be," Barnhart said.

Her sister, Brooke Allen Cates held similar sentiments. Cates said Schmautz wanted rounded players.

"It wasn't just about basketball," she said." He looked at the whole person."

Cates said he was like a second father to her. She now lives in Canby, Ore. and coaches freshman boys basketball and teaches health and physical education. Barnhart coaches high school girls basketball and track in teaches marketing at Central Valley School in Spokane, Wash.

They both credit Schmautz's guidance for their success.

Schmautz also taught social studies at Columbia Falls. He was named to the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996. He was named to the Columbia Falls Coaches Hall of fame in 1998.

"He was an outstanding person. An outstanding motivator," said Columbia Falls resident and barber Randy Bocksnick, who has watched and photographed basketball at the school for about 40 years.

He recalled the 1983 team all wore kneepads because they played so hard and scrapped for every loose ball.

Schmautz was also personable.

"He had a great sense of humor and was a great storyteller. I'd laugh until I had tears in my eyes," Bocksnick said.

Dick Cowan was an assistant coach under Schmautz for 10-plus years.

He remembered him as a no-nonsense guy.

"He was always straightforward," Cowan said. He said Schmautz played players based on their ability, not family connections. He remembers coaching with Schmautz as a "fun quick 10 years."

A full obituary appears in this newspaper.