Briefs: Aces for Coyle, Nitopi

BIGFORK — Joan Coyle fired a hole-in-one on July 1, on No. 4 of the Eagle Nine of Eagle Bend Golf Club. 

Coyle used a driver for her 139-yard shot. Witnesses were Susi Ewing and Cheryl Lamoureux. 

Whitefish Lake ace for Nitopi

WHITEFISH — Tyler Nitopi picked up a hole-in-one on June 30, using a 9-iron to ace No. 4 on the North Course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. 

The shot covered 148 yards from the white tees and was witnessed by Jason Meuter. 

Pridgen done playing for Grizzlies 

MISSOULA — Almost five months after announcing he would return to play for the Montana Grizzlies, Joe Pridgen’s college basketball career is apparently over. 

Pridgen, who played five seasons over six years thanks to the NCAA waiver for athletes affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, has exhausted his eligibility. 

“There was a misunderstanding about the circumstances of Joe’s eligibility,” a University of Montana spokesman told 406mtsports.com. “He does not have any remaining eligibility for the 2025-26 season.” 

Pridgen was UM’s lone all-Big Sky Conference selection last season, after averaging 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. 

He spent two seasons (2022-24) at Northeastern before transferring to UM as a walk-on. He was the Patriot League Rockie of the Year with Holy Cross in 2019-20 and spent one injury-shortened season at UNC-Wilmington. 

Big Sky extends commish Wistrcill 5 years

FARMINGTON, Utah — Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill, whose tenure with the league includes repeated record-setting achievements for revenue generation and media exposure, has signed a five-year contract extension through 2030, the conference announced Tuesday. 

“On behalf of my fellow presidents, we are pleased that Tom has committed to our conference for the foreseeable future, thus allowing the Big Sky to continue progressing along the ascending trajectory on which he has skillfully led us for the past six-plus years,” said C. Scott Green, president of the University of Idaho and current chair of the Big Sky Presidents’ Council. 

The league’s commissioner since December 2018, Wistrcill has evolved into a leading national voice within the industry. He served on the prestigious NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee since 2022 and on the Collegiate Football Officiating boardsince 2021. Last month, his colleagues appointed him as the vice president of the Collegiate Commissioners Association.

“I am honored to continue leading the Big Sky and am thankful for the leadership of and support from our dedicated Presidents’ Council,” Wistrcill said. “The best days for the Big Sky are still ahead!”