Sports Briefs: Bannan leaving Griz for pros

Mar. 28—Josh Bannan, a first-team all-Big Sky Conference pick for the Montana Grizzlies last season, is leaving the program to chase a professional basketball career.

The Australian was second-team all-Big Sky as a sophomore in 2021-22, averaging 17.0 points and 8.2 rebounds; this past season he averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Bannan announced his attentions via Twitter on Monday night.

"Griz Nation. It's been a ride," he began, then thank several people, including head coach Travis DeCuire and the fans.

"I committed here because I felt the coaches and the Missoula community were special, my 3 years reaffirmed that," he added. "With that being said I am excited to announce that I have decided to forgo my remaining college eligibility to begin my professional basketball career.

"I started my college career as a Griz, I'll finish it as a Griz and I would have it any other way."

Bannon was UM's top rebounder (5.9 per game) and averaged 8.4 points as a true freshman. He leaves the program with 1,191 career points and 694 rebounds; 406mtsports.com reported that Troy men's coach Scott Cross felt the 6-foot-10 Bannan could play in the NBA.

Schillinger named Mary grid coach

BISMARCK, N.D. — Shann Schillinger, the Baker native who starred for the Montana Grizzlies, was introduced as the head football coach at the University of Mary on Monday.

Schillinger, 36, becomes the eighth head coach since the Marauders took to the gridiron in 1988 — first as an NAIA program and since 2006 as an NCAA Division II team.

"I am extremely honored to be the next head coach of the University of Mary Marauders and humbled by the trust bestowed upon me to take on this tremendous responsibility," Schillinger said Monday.

It's his fifth coaching stop: Schillinger coached at Dickinson State (N.D.) in 2014, at Nebraska of the Big 10 in 2015, at Montana from 2016-21, and then spent last season as defensive analyst at Mississippi State under the late Mike Leach.

He spent three-plus seasons, from 2010-13, with the Atlanta Falcons, who took him 171st overall in the NFL Draft. Before that, he was a standout safety for the Griz, named second-team all-Big Sky Conference in 2008 and first-team in 2009. The Griz advanced to the FCS title game both those seasons.

Bobby Hauck, who both coached him at UM and had him on staff for three seasons, sang Schillinger's praises in a release on the website goumary.com.

"What an excellent hire by the University of Mary," Hauck said. "I'm excited to watch the trajectory of the football program and the great things that Shann and his staff will do at Mary."

Mary is coming off its third straight 2-9 season; since going 6-5 in 2013 the Marauders have won 11 games in eight seasons.

MSU's Germer enters portal

BOZEMAN — After spending two seasons with the Montana State men's basketball team, Missoula Sentinel product Alex Germer has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

The Twitter handle Verbal Commits reported it Monday, and MTN Sports later confirmed it with MSU.

The 6-foot-8 forward scored 21 points in 39 minutes this past season; he redshirted in 2021-22. The Bobcats just made their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Germer saw action in 10 games.

Germer averaged 24.8 points and 6.3 rebounds as a senior at Sentinel. He will have three years of eligibility left.