The state of Montana is not going to come up first when people begin think of places with the greatest college athletes. But that doesn't mean putting together a list of the 10 best is simple.
Both the University of Montana and Montana State - the two Division I schools in the state - make up all the representatives with the Grizzlies and Bobcats both having success in football and basketball.
There's one player that would go on to the Pro Football Hall Fame. Others would be part of national championship teams. The two highest-scoring members of the respective men's basketball teams are also represented. So without further ado, here's our list of the 10 greatest athletes from the state of Montana:
10 greatest college athletes from Montana
Larry Krystkowiak, Montana
A three-time Big Sky MVP, Krystkowiak remains the
Grizzlies' all-time leading scorer (2,017) and rebounder (1,105). Krystkowiak is the only Montana men's basketball player to have his jersey retired and ranked No. 2 on the Big Sky's "50 Greatest Male Athletes of All-Time" list in 2014.
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Michael Ray Richardson, Montana
Recruited to Montana by Jud Heathcote, Richardson is the program's second all-time leading scorer (behind Krystkowiak). A three-time first team All-Big Sky pick, Richardson led the Grizzlies to two conference titles, an NCAA Tournament win and earned honorable mention All-America honors before being picked No. 4 overall by the New York Knicks in the 1978 NBA Draft.
Dave Dickenson, Montana
Quarterback of the Grizzlies on their 1995 Division I-AA national championship team, Dickenson was a three-time All-American and Big Sky offensive MVP three times during a career he totaled 13,486 passing yards and 116 touchdowns. Inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018, Dickenson won the Walter Payton Award as a senior after throwing for 5,676 yards and 51 touchdowns.
Jan Stenerud, Montana State
Stenerud dreamed of being an Olympic skier. And while the Norwegian earned All-America honors in skiing in 1964, his future was kicking footballs. He was a first-team All-American in 1966 and held the record for most points in a season (82) and longest field goal (59). Stenerud, who had his jersey retired by the school, would go on to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
PROGRAM RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12
Shannon Cate, Montana
Cate was the Big Sky's first All-American in 1992 and was a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year. A two-time Big Sky MVP, Cate set a conference scoring record (2,172 career points) and led the Grizzlies to four NCAA tournaments. She was voted No. 1 on the Big Sky's "25 Greatest Female Athletes" list in 2014 and has her jersey retired.
Tyler Hall, Montana State
Montana State's all-time leading men's basketball scorer, (his 2,518 career points are 628 more than second place), Hall was a four-time All-Big Sky pick and holds the all-time conference scoring record, too. His 431 career made 3-point field goals are also a Big Sky record and he ranks 16th all-time on the NCAA list.
Tim Hauck, Montana
A two-time All-American and two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (1988-89), Hauck was the first Montana player named a Walter Payton Award finalist. He finished his career with 305 tackles and 15 interceptions and set a school record with 25 tackles in a game against Fresno State.
Sonny Holland, Montana State
Referred to as "The Greatest Bobcat of Them All", Holland was a three-time All-America linebacker and helped the Bobcats to NAIA national title as a player. He returned to coach Montana State from 1971-76 and led the Bobcats to the 1976 Division II national championship.
Vince Huntsberger, Montana
The only Montana player to ever receive a Heisman Trophy vote, the Grizzlies safety registerd a then-school record in 2001 with 145 tackles. The Big Sky Defensive MVP and Buck Buchanan Award runner-up, Huntsberger led Montana to the Championship Subdivision national title, earning game MVP honors.
Dante Olson, Montana
Named the Buck Buchanan Award winner (given to FCS' best defensive player) in 2019, Olson was a two-time All-American and the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. He set a school record for tackles in a season as a junior (151) and led the nation in tackles per game (13.7). He bettered that mark as a senior (179) and led the nation in tackling again.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: The 10 best Montana college athletes ranked
