Coaches

Head Coach - Brandon Veltri

Email Brandon (406) 447-5519

Coach Veltri returns for his fourth season as Head Coach of the Fighting Saints Basketball Program. Over the past three the Saints have finished with one Frontier Conference title along with a trip to the NAIA National Tournament round of 16 as well as two fourth place finishes in conference play. In all Coach Veltri is 50-38 in his career.

Last year the Saints wrapped up the season with a 14-13 overall mark and a fourth place finish in the Frontier Conference at 7-7. The fourth place finish would earn Carroll a first round home playoff game.

Under Veltri’s leadership, Senior Andy Garland and Junior Ben Cutler earned All-Frontier Conference First Team Honors, while Senior Tony Dalton earned All-Frontier Conference Second team Honors. Garland would go on to earn NAIA All-America Second team honors, making him the first Four-Time All-America in Carroll College History.

Upholding the high academic standards at Carroll was not overlooked by the 2011-12 team, as four Saints earned Academic All-America Honors, (Andy Garland, Tony Dalton, Ben Cutler, Ben Nearpass) Carroll earned the second most Academic All-Americas in NAIA Men’s Basketball. The Saints were also well represented with seven members earning Academic All- Frontier Conference Honors.

Veltri previously served as associate head coach (2008-09) and assistant coach (2003-08) under Carroll College Hall of Famer Head Coach Gary Turcott. Since Brandon’s arrival at Carroll, the Saints have won over 68% of their games and compiled an impressive 190-87 overall record. He helped the Saints to a pair of Elite Eight appearances and a berth in the NAIA’s Fab Four in 2005. Carroll has won 20 games or more six times including, including a school record 28 wins in 2005 that was surpassed by the 30 wins the following season.

During Brandon’s tenure, men’s basketball has garnered 11 All-America honorees as well as 20 All-Frontier Conference selections. In addition to individual success the Saints have made four appearances to the National Tournament in the past seven seasons, advancing to the sweet-sixteen in three of the four trips to nationals.

Prior to Carroll College, Brandon was a graduate assistant for Coach Doug Oliver and the Idaho State Bengals of the Big Sky Conference during the 2002-03 season. He was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School. While at Judge Brandon played basketball for Coach Jim Yerkovich who has recorded over 600 victories over the past 40 years while at the helm for the Bulldogs. Upon graduating from Judge Memorial, Brandon spent two years at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington where he played basketball alongside Carroll associate head coach and identical twin brother Brock Veltri. Coach Veltris head coach at Port Anegles was former Carroll assistant coach and current Pepperdine Associate Head Coach Mark Amaral.

Brandon graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from the University of Utah in 2001 and earned a Master of Physical Education in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University in 2003.

Associate Head Coach - Brock Veltri

Email Brock (406) 447-5183

Brock Veltri enters his third season as associate head coach for the Carroll men’s team and is entering his 13th coaching season. This will be his 11th season at the college level.

As associate head coach Brock is the recruiting coordinator for the Saints basketball program. He has worked with the post players over the past two years but will be switching to perimeter player development for the 2011-12 season. Brock is also responsible for opponent scouting reports and team travel. 

Prior to his arrival in Helena, Brock spent five seasons as the head assistant coach on the Seattle Pacific University staff, an NCAA division-II institution. He served as SPU’s head recruiting coordinator, oversaw in-season scouting of opponents, skill development efforts and was in charge of scheduling and travel for the Falcons.

During Brock’s time at SPU the Falcons had a combined record of 104-43 and qualified for the NCAA tournament all five seasons.   During that span the Falcons either hit or exceeded the twenty win mark three times.   In the 2006 and 2007 campaigns, the Falcons won back-to-back GNAC Conference Championships and advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2006. Over his five seasons SPU had 13 All-Conference team members, six All-West region selections, and two All-America honorees.

Prior to SPU, Brock spent two years in a similar position with Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, where he also served as the school’s sports information director for two years. Brock began his career as an assistant for his alma mater, Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City. He learned the game under legendary coach Jim Yerkovich, who recorded 643 victories in a 44 year coaching career as well as three state titles. Brock then spent one season on the staff at Idaho State University while completing his master’s degree in athletic administration.

Brock and his wife Jenny reside in Helena

Assistant Coach - Ryan McDermott

Email Ryan (406) 447-5183

Ryan McDermott enters the third season of his his second stint on the Carroll College men’s basketball staff after a four-year hiatus.

Prior to rejoining the Saints, McDermott served as the Director of Basketball Operations at The University of Detroit.  There McDermott coordinated the Titan’s film exchange program, film breakdown, assisted with scouting, coordinated team travel, help direct study table, academics, and the teams community service/volunteer program.   

Before joining the Titans, McDermott served as a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma for three seasons. His first season was under Coach Kelvin Sampson and his final two were with current Sooner coach Jeff Capel.  With the Sooners, McDermott assisted with the skill development of post and perimeter players, helping land 6 All-Big 12 selections, and the #1 and #48 (Blake and Taylor Griffin) draft picks in the 2009 NBA draft.  He also assisted the coaching staff with game preparation, film exchange, scouting, and film breakdown while also coordinating coaches’ clinics and summer camps.  

Prior to joining the Sooners, McDermott was an assistant with the Saints from 2000-2005.  During his time there the Fighting Saints reached unprecedented heights, including four NAIA Tournament appearances, three Frontier Conference Championships, and a trip to the Fab Four in his last season. 

Student Assistant Coach - Chris Medina

Chris Medina begins his first season as a member of the Saints coaching staff. Medina was a member of the Saints men’s basketball team for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. He came off the bench as a junior and started every game as a senior.

Chris spent last season as a member of the Viewmont High School basketball staff in (Bountiful, UT).  He was the co-head coach of the sophomore team. His primary duties were offensive skill development and game preparation. Chris’s team had a very successful season going 18-2.

Chris was also an assistant coach for the varsity and junior varsity teams. The varsity team won the Region 2 Championship and advanced to the state playoffs.