Robin Selvig: Leadership, Legacy & the 1987–88 Lady Griz

Former Montana Lady Griz head coach Robin Selvig joins The Krista Redpath Show for a special conversation celebrating one of the most influential figures in women’s college basketball and the enduring legacy of Lady Griz basketball.

Over 38 seasons at Montana, Selvig compiled 865 career victories, guided the Lady Griz to 24 conference championships, 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, and built one of the most respected programs in the country — earning 21 conference Coach of the Year honors and induction into the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame.

Coach Selvig’s career and impact have been captured in the award-winning documentary Playing Like a Girl: The House That Rob Built, which chronicles the rise of the Lady Griz into a national power. His commitment to creating opportunity for Native American student-athletes is also highlighted in Native Ball: Legacy of a Trailblazer, featuring the late Malia Kipp, a powerful film that underscores the lasting influence of his leadership beyond the game.

In retirement, Selvig shares stories about spending time with his granddaughters before reflecting on the historic 1987–88 Lady Griz team, recently inducted into the Grizzly Athletics Hall of Fame. Already competing within a strong and growing Lady Griz tradition, that squad finished 28–2 overall, won its first 26 games, and recorded marquee victories over Oregon, Washington, Washington State, Creighton, Wyoming, Gonzaga, and Utah. Their season concluded in a memorable 74–72 double-overtime NCAA Tournament game in Missoula against Stanford, led by Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer — a Cardinal team that would go on to win the national championship two years later.

The conversation then shifts to today’s Big Sky Conference, the evolving landscape of college basketball, and why earning a place in the NCAA Tournament remains one of the sport’s most meaningful achievements.