Meet The Coach: Great Falls High's Scott Donisthorpe

Scott Donisthorpe is an assistant coach on the Great Falls High track and field team.

Q: So you help out with the sprinters, is that right?

A: Yeah, the 100, 200 – both boys and girls. And then the short relay.

Q: And how long have you been doing that?

A: Since (head coach) Dan (Brady) started. About 10 years.

Q: I'm sure you'd like Nolan to be here? (Nolan, his son, is a tremendous athlete for Great Falls Central who is committed to play football at Montana Western).

A: Uh, yeah. It'd be fun to have him here, but he's having a great year up at Central and he's doing really well.

Q: You have some solid athletes that you're coaching this season.

A: Yeah, we have a really good relay team. We've got Alyssa Jonasen, she's a senior and started all four years for us out of the blocks. And we have Hannah Collins, who is one of the top 10 in the 100 and 200. And Morgan Evans. They run our relay. The fourth spot we are trying to figure out right now. They are real fun to coach because they work really hard and they want to do really well, so it's fun. And our boys, we have kids who are competing and working hard. We are getting better every meet.

Q: What's your track background like? Did you used to run when you were a kid?

A: Uh, no. I did a little bit in high school. I just got into coaching track out at Centerville, where I first started teaching. I was the assistant track coach there, and then I was fortunate enough to be able to get on here at Great Falls with Dan and just take off. I really enjoy track.

Q: Are you from here?

A: No. I actually went to high school in Lewistown and played basketball and football there. Then I went to college in Dickinson, then moved up to Great Falls, worked out at Centerville for 14 years and been at Great Falls since 2000.

Q: What do you like about coaching track?

A: I like the individual athleticism of the kids. It's kind of all on their shoulders. We show them technique and show them what they need to improve on and try to help them in practice, and when it comes to the meet time it's all on them. And you get to see who wants to improve.

Q: Do you have any other kids?

A: I have a daughter who's 27 and she ran tack and played basketball and played softball here at Great Falls High. Then I have a son who's 23, and he played basketball here and he golfed. He actually golfs at UGF right now.

Q: Do you follow college basketball?

A: Yeah.

Q: Who you got in the Final Four?

A: Well, I had Notre Dame, so they are out. I wanted them. Probably have to go with Kentucky.

Q: Michigan State or Duke?

A: Michigan State, I hope.

Q: In the final, you have Kentucky?

A: I hate to say it but yeah (laughs).