Mark Montgomery Position: Associate Head Coach Experience: Seventh Year

Mark Montgomery is in his seventh season as an assistant basketball coach at Michigan State, and his first as associate head coach, having been promoted to the position in May 2007.

Montgomery is instrumental in the development of the perimeter players, passing on the knowledge that helped make him an all-conference selection during his time at MSU. He also assists with scouting and recruiting, helping assemble a top-five recruiting class in 2007. Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com named him one of 10 assistant coaches ready to "make the jump and run their own program in 2008." In his six seasons, perimeter players Maurice Ager, Alan Anderson, Shannon Brown, Chris Hill, Drew Neitzel, Marcus Taylor, Kelvin Torbert and Travis Walton have earned all-conference recognition in some format. The Spartans have also appeared in six NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the Final Four in 2005 and the Elite Eight in 2003.

"It's a great honor to be named associate head coach at my alma mater," said Montgomery. "I'm very grateful to Coach Izzo for giving me this opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career. I was playing at Michigan State when Coach Izzo was named associate head coach under Coach Heathcote. I'm honored to follow in his footsteps, along with those of Tom Crean, Brian Gregory and Doug Wojcik, all great coaches who have held this position before me. I'm also excited to work closely with Dwayne Stephens and Mike Garland as we work alongside Coach Izzo to pursue more success at this great program."

Montgomery returned to his alma mater prior to the 2001-02 season after four years as an assistant coach at Central Michigan. He joined the Central Michigan coaching staff in 1997-98 and helped direct a turnaround in the Chippewa program. In 2000-01, CMU posted a 20-8 record and captured the fifth Mid-American Conference regular-season championship in school history and first since 1987. Central's 20-win season was only the second since 1976, and just the third winning season since 1980. By capturing the 2001 conference championship after a 2000 record of 6-23 (2-16 MAC), CMU became the first team in MAC history to go from last place one season to first the next.

An Inkster, Mich., native, Montgomery was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State University from 1989-92. A 1992 third-team All-Big Ten selection, Montgomery ended his career as the then-career leader in games played at MSU (126). A four-year starter for the Spartans, he was part of the 1990 Big Ten Championship team, three NCAA Tournament teams and an NIT Final Four. Montgomery ranks fourth on the career assists chart (561) after leading the team in assists as a junior (169) and senior (190). He also ranks third on the MSU career steals list (168).

"Mark Montgomery has earned a promotion to associate head coach," said head coach Tom Izzo. "He has really grown in the job over the past six seasons and elevated all aspects of his coaching, from his court teaching, office management and certainly recruiting. He has positioned himself as the next Spartan assistant likely to get a head coaching job. Other people are starting to recognize his abilities, as shown by FoxSports.com naming him one of 10 assistants ready to become a head coach. That's a nice honor for Mark, but one he deserves."

Montgomery averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 assists in his four years as a Spartan. In 1992, he averaged 7.0 points and 6.3 assists as a senior co-captain, leading his team to a 22-8 mark and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Following his playing days at Michigan State, Montgomery played four years of professional basketball in Europe. He averaged more than 25 points a game during his career in Germany, Lithuania and Sweden.

While at Michigan State, he was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Born April 1, 1970, Montgomery received his bachelor's degree in food industry management from Michigan State.