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Parker Wins Under Armour AD of the Year Award

Helena-MT. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced their winners of the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award (ADOY) today. The winners will be recognized during the 44th Annual NACDA convention at the James J. Corbett Luncheon on Saturday, June 20 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida. Carroll College Athletic Director Bruce Parker was selected as the NAIA West Region Winner.

“To be honored by your peers is always very special. This is a great field that I am fortunate to work in,” said Parker, who has just completed his sixth year at Carroll. “It has been a wonderful year for Carroll College athletics and I'm so fortunate to be able to work with outstanding student-athletes. I'm blessed with great coaches, an incredible support staff and a senior administration that truly understands the value of a strong athletic program. Carroll College is a very special place!" more

Capital golf standout Ternes signs with Carroll College

Capital High standout athlete Ben Ternes has signed a letter of intent to join the Carroll College golf team this upcoming fall, Saints head coach Bennett MacIntyre announced on Tuesday.

The two-time Capital High team MVP took second place this past year at the Montana AA golf tournament, shooting a 1-under-par 141 at the Green Meadow Country Club, earning all-state golf honors. He was also a second-team all-state basketball player his senior year.

"Ben is the type of athlete who will put in the extra time to practice," MacIntyre said. "When you have people like that who are driven in your program, it makes everyone else better." Story

The guard changes

Carroll College didn't have to look anywhere else to find the perfect replacement for retired men's head basketball coach Gary Turcott. The best choice was already on their staff.

Former associate head coach Brandon Veltri accepted the role on Thursday during a press conference in the Carroll P.E. Center gymnasium, leading the Saints into a new era after 19 years under Turcott's instruction. Turcott announced his retirement on April 2.

"I am very, very proud to be able to hire Brandon Veltri. He's proven that he can be a head coach at this level, he's worked under who I think is one of the finest coaches in the country in Gary Turcott," said Carroll athletic director Bruce Parker. "He's a hard worker, he's very loyal to Carroll College and I think he could be here for a long time. He's got a lot of enthusiasm, and I think the transition for our players, our staff and the campus and the Helena community will be an easy one." Story

Players react to Veltri’s signing

Brandon Veltri, right, coaches alongside former head coach Gary Turcott during a basketball game this past season at Carroll College. Veltri was named the new head coach Thursday. (File photo by Lisa Kunkel Independent Record)

Brandon Veltri will be tested by die-hard Carroll College fans and the Helena community over the next few years, facing the reality that all new coaches must when taking over a program. But in the locker room and around the P.E. Center, his appointment as the new men's basketball coach has already been widely accepted. Story

Carroll names Veltri new head basketball coach

Brandon Veltri, a long-time assistant coach at Carroll College, has been named as the Saints' new head men's basketball coach, announced Athletic Director Bruce Parker on Thursday. Veltri replaces the veteran Gary Turcott, who announced his retirement three weeks ago after 19 years at the helm of the Carroll men's program.

"Brandon has done an outstanding job assisting Coach (Gary) Turcott and has been involved in all aspects of the program," Parker said. "I have been impressed with his work on and off the court as well as his abilities in the areas of recruiting and scheduling. He has been fortunate to have Gary as a mentor in this profession. Brandon has more than earned a shot at this position and I am confident that he will continue the tremendous success that the Saints have enjoyed over the past 19 years." Story

Brekke inks with Saints basketball team

Carroll College women's head basketball coach Shawn Nelson has announced the signing of Helena's own Kelsi Brekke of Capital High.

Brekke, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, averaged 19.2 points per game, shot 39 percent from behind the arc, and sank 86 percent from the foul line for Coach Bill Pilgeram's squad. She also led the Bruins to the Class AA state tournament and handed two-time defending champion Missoula Big Sky their only loss of the year.

"We are excited to have Kelsi join our program. She is an outstanding scorer and has the ability to stretch out the defense with her 3-point shooting," says Coach Nelson. "She has really developed into an all-around scorer and can get to the foul line and hit big free-throws." Story

Versatile JC point guard signs with Saints women

Carroll College head women's basketball coach Shawn Nelson announced the signing of Otero Junior College point guard Alex Dunn on Monday.

Originally from Hunter High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 5-foot-6 guard earned first team All-Region during her junior and senior seasons and was named third team All-State in Utah following her senior year. Dunn will address a need the Saints had at the point guard position this past season and allow other players to return to their natural positions.

"Alex has a tremendous sense of how to play the point guard position and makes everyone on the floor better," Nelson said. "She is extremely fast in the open court and sees the floor exceptionally well." Story

No. 1 defense holds strong in Saints scrimmage

The Saints No. 1 defense held their offensive counterpart scoreless, proving that the squad that's still trying to hammer down its top two lines has plenty of muscle during the final spring scrimmage in Nelson Stadium.

"We came out and said we weren't going to give up any points," said sophomore linebacker Thomas Dolan. "They were able to get inside the 30-yard line and then we shut them down."

The top defensive squad gave up a total of 129 yards on 35 plays (3.7 ypp) against the first- and second-string offenses, using everything including its nickel and red-zone defenses. Carroll's total offense, meanwhile, finished with 424 yards, 22 first downs and three TDs on 112 snaps. Story

Defense, offense square off at Saints’ first scrimmage

The Carroll College football team's defense brought the intensity early to Saturday's scrimmage at Nelson Stadium, but the offense certainly gained some control in the end.

The Purple and White went back-and-forth as the Saints' No. 1 defense held its offensive counterpart to three straight three-and-outs before starting quarterback Gary Wagner and the bunch could make a dent.

"That first defense out, we came out with a lot of intensity, our heads were on and we just flew to the ball," said junior linebacker Mac Gordon. "It seemed like we got the offense a little flustered, and so maybe that was why we were so successful." Story

Carroll’s Gordon taking on new responsibilities

Mac Gordon knows he has some big shoes to fill.

Not only has he moved to the "Mike" linebacker spot, which for the past three years has been dominated by All-American and 2008 NAIA Player of the Year Owen Koeppen, but the Carroll College junior is also the only remaining starter from last fall's linebacking corps.

After graduating five linebackers, three of them starters and the two others as top backups and special teams players, the Saints have needed some strong senior leadership over the spring. Gordon hasn't waited until after the summer to step into the role. Story

The Helena IR

Many stories about Carroll Athletics are carried on a daily basis in the local paper, The Helena Independent Record. You can find out more on Carroll Athletics by reading their stories here.