Montana Sports: AP-MT-California-Montgo

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u s AP-MT--California-Montgo     04-04 0177
^AP-MT--California-Montgomery (Tops),0151<

     
^Cal hires former Stanford hoops coach Montgomery<
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^(STATIONS: UPDATES with confirmation from school)<^

     

     BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) _ California has turned to its biggest
rival to find its new basketball coach. The school has hired former
Stanford coach Mike Montgomery on Friday to replace fired men‘s
hoops coach Ben Braun.

     Montgomery was to be officially introduced at a news conference
on campus tomorrow, according to the school.

     Montgomery spent 18 years with the Cardinal, but has been out of
coaching since August 2006 when he was let go after two seasons in
the NBA with the Golden State Warriors.

     Braun was fired last week after 12 seasons as coach when the
Bears missed the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five years.

     Montgomery made the tournament his final 10 years at Stanford.

     He has a career college coaching record of 547-244, including a
155-76 record in eight seasons at Montana from 1978 through 1986.

     ___

     Help from: Jason Nitschke, KFBB, www.kfbb.com

     

     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

     AP-NY-04-04-08 2309EDT<