Valley City State University

The 2024-25 season marks Ryan Montgomery's ninth year as head coach of the Valley City State University men’s basketball program. 

Montgomery was announced as the 21st coach in program history on Aug. 4, 2016, leading the Vikings for the first time during the 2016-17 season.

Valley City State finished the 2023-24 season with an 11-16 mark overall and a 3-9 conference record. Cleveland Bedgood was named 2nd Team All-Conference for the 2023-24 season. The Vikings finished the 2022-23 season with a 16-14 overall record and an 8-6 mark in the NSAA. VCSU finished fourth in the NSAA standings and made it to the semifinals of the NSAA Tournament. Daevonte Munson was named 1st Team All-Conference and Cayden Rickard earned Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Valley City State posted an 18-11 record during the 2021-22 season, going 8-6 in conference play. The Vikings finished third in the NSAA standings and advanced to the semifinals of the NSAA Tournament. Kevin Schramm was named 1st Team All-Conference, and Chris Thompson earned Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Montgomery guided the Vikings to a 19-7 overall record and a 9-5 mark in conference play during the 2020-21 season. The Vikings finished second in the NSAA standings and advanced to the semifinals of the NSAA Tournament. Chris Thompson was named NSAA Defensive Player of the Year, and Kevin Schramm earned 1st Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American.

During the 2019-20 season, the Vikings posted a 9-20 overall record and a 5-9 mark in conference play – finishing sixth in the NSAA. Junior forward Kevin Schramm was named 2nd Team All-Conference for the Vikings, while junior guard Logan Nelson earned Honorable Mention All-Conference.

The 2018-19 season was Montgomery's third year on the sideline as he guided a young roster to a 9-19 overall record and a 5-9 conference record. The team showed marked growth throughout the season and finished by winning four of its final five regular season games. Sophomore guard Logan Nelson was named 1st Team All-Conference and junior guard Michael Cornelious was named Honorable Mention.

Montgomery guided the Vikings to a 16-15 overall record during his first season and a fifth-place finish in the NSAA standings. Junior Jayden Ferguson was named 1st Team All Conference and junior Austin Dunbar was named the NSAA Defensive Player of the Year. In 2017-18, the Vikings battled adversity throughout the season to post a 14-16 overall record. The team won six straight games to end the regular season before losing to top seed Bellevue University in the NSAA Championships. Senior Jayden Ferguson was named 1st Team All Conference and Honorable Mention All-American after finishing his career with 2128 points, ranking second all-time in school history.

Montgomery previously served as assistant coach at Bemidji State University (BSU) in Bemidji, Minn., since 2010; from 2008–10 he served as a graduate assistant at BSU. Montgomery coached four years under current BSU head coach Mike Boschee, a native of Valley City.

At BSU, Montgomery served as recruiting coordinator and was active in all phases of the Beaver men’s basketball program, including individual player development, academic progress, game preparation, and team travel. Montgomery also served as camp coordinator and instructor; in his career, he has worked more than 100 player development campus.

During his tenure on the Bemidji staff, the Beavers went 87-81, including shares of two Northern Sun conference titles and a program best 22-9 record and an NCAA Division II tournament appearance in the 2011–12 campaign.

Prior to joining BSU, Montgomery served as assistant coach in 2007–08 at his alma mater, Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School in Plainview, Minn.

Montgomery holds a master’s degree in sport studies from BSU and a bachelor’s degree in exercise sports science with a minor in psychology from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., where he played college basketball.

Montgomery and his wife, Trista, reside in Valley City with their daughter, Lily.