MSU-Northern Skylights basketball coach Chris Mouat is having himself an offseason. Along with bringing in the new recruits for the 2024-25 season, he was recently named the Frontier Conference’s “Coach of Character” award winner for the 2023-24 season, which is given to the coach who has exemplified the highest honor of class, integrity, and hospitality.
New Media Broadcasters caught up with coach Mouat, who said what the award meant to him.
“I’m uncomfortable with things like that,” Mouat said. “I appreciate being nominated.”
“I think it says maybe a lot about what our kids do in the community, on campus, and I think the example that they set,” Mouat continued. ” We do try to steer them in the right direction, of course.”
“There are a lot of great coaches in our league and great people to be considered for that,” Mouat said. “Let alone win it, that meant a lot. We just try to be consistent with what we do with our kids and if people recognize that, that’s great.”
Mouat’s generosity and selflessness leads into the next topic of discussion, which is the eighth annual “Hoops For A Cause” event. Every year, basketball players and coaches from the Frontier Conference come together to raise money for someone within the family who is in need of financial assistance. Coach Mouat gave details as to what makes the united front so significant.
“This is our eighth year and I think our 10th cause (because) we did a couple last year,” Mouat said. “I think all told, over the eight years, we have been able to raise over $200,000, which is pretty amazing.”
“When it comes to medical things, I know that’s not a lot, but for a one-day event (each year), I think we’ve done alright,” Mouat continued.
“Again, it’s a Frontier (Conference) thing (and is) very cool,” Mouat said. “Our conference commissioner is on board. Our athletic directors have been nothing but supportive of us. (Let’s) keep it going and do what we can.”
This year’s recipient is Chloe MacIntyre, who is the infant daughter of Carroll College head golf coach Ben MacIntyre. Mouat explained what makes Chloe so special due to her unfortunate medical attention.
“Just a few weeks ago, she was in for a fairly routine surgery and suffered a stroke at only eight months old,” Mouat said. “We’re going to band together as coaches and kids.”
“We’re going to meet in Helena (and) do a 3-on-3 tournament,” Mouat continued. “Our Facebook page has a ton of auction items.”
“We’ve got some golf rounds at places all over Montana, golf gear, (and) we have football helmets from the Frontier Conference,” Mouat said. “(It’s) just a lot of different types of things for people to take a look at and with all that money going to Chloe.”
“Hoops For A Cause” will take place in Helena with a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Saturday. Visit the Facebook page for the schedule of games and auctioned items.
