The Krista Redpath Show

Rooted in Utah: Jenteal Jackson’s Path to Leading Weber State

This week on The Krista Redpath Show, I’m continuing to take you Around the Big Sky in Women’s Hoops — and our next stop is Ogden, Utah.
Weber State head women’s basketball coach Jenteal Jackson joins the show to break down her rapid rise in the Big Sky and the momentum she’s building with the Wildcats in year three.  A Salt Lake City native and former elite multi-sport athlete, Jackson reflects on her Utah roots, starring at Skyline High School, playing both basketball and golf at BYU and Westminster, and transitioning seamlessly from player to coach.
Jackson shares how nearly a decade on staff at Westminster prepared her for the head coaching chair, the lessons learned from coaching multiple sports, and what it meant to take over her alma mater before earning her first Division I head coaching opportunity at Weber State. The conversation dives into Weber State’s growth under her leadership,  from a Big Sky Tournament win in her first season to a No. 4 seed and multiple program milestones in year two  along with her vision for building culture, developing players, and navigating one of the most competitive leagues in the country.
It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation on leadership, longevity, and the power of women’s sports right here on The Krista Redpath Show.

Karlie Burris: Competition, Connection, and a New Era at Portland State

This week on The Krista Redpath Show, I’m continuing to take you Around the Big Sky in Women’s Hoops, and our next stop is Portland, Oregon.
I’m joined by Karlie Burris, the head women’s basketball coach at Portland State, who is now in her first season leading the Vikings and opening a new era for the program.  We begin the conversation by setting the stage with the sports era Karlie grew up in while coming up in Tucson, Arizona, a time when Arizona men’s basketball won a national championship, Arizona women’s basketball was a regular NCAA Tournament team, the WNBA launched, and the Diamondbacks captured a World Series. Karlie shares how growing up in that environment — earning a black belt in Taekwondo, playing basketball with the boys, and embracing defense — helped shape her competitive mindset.
From there, Karlie reflects on her high school years at Salpointe Catholic, where she played alongside Sybil Dosty, who would go on to play at the University of Tennessee. She then takes us into her college decision, where she was recruited to the University of Portland by then assistant coach Loree Payne (Havre, Montana) and we talk about how recruiting is so often built on trust and connection.
We also touch on a unique Big Sky thread in Karlie’s journey: Loree Payne later went on to coach Northern Arizona for eight seasons, and Karlie’s first assistant coaching opportunity also came at Northern Arizona, where she was hired under Sue Darling. Karlie explains how those early experiences helped shape her approach to recruiting and coaching. From there, the conversation moves through her championship years at UNLV under Lindy La Rocque and into her current role at Portland State. We discuss the standards she’s establishing in year one, what she’s learning about her team now that the season is underway, and how she defines success beyond wins and losses.
It’s a wide-ranging conversation about competition, preparation, and the coaching connections that shape careers  and a deeper look at Karlie Burris as she leads Portland State women’s basketball.

Kristen Mattio: Building Culture, Faith, and Championship Standards at Northern Colorado

This week on The Krista Redpath Show, I’m continuing to take you Around the Big Sky in Women’s Hoops — and our next stop is Greeley, Colorado.
I’m joined by Kristen Mattio, the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Northern Colorado, who is in her fifth season leading the Bears. Since arriving in 2021, Mattio has steadily elevated the program, becoming the first head coach in UNC’s Division I era to surpass 200 career wins, highlighted by an overtime upset of Big 12 opponent BYU last season.
In this conversation, we dive into Mattio’s journey — from growing up in Tennessee during the height of the Pat Summitt–led Lady Vols era, to her playing days at Evangel University, her early coaching years in the Big Sky at Montana State, and her role in building a national Division II powerhouse at West Texas A&M before taking the reins at UNC.
Mattio also opens up about the influence of her father and grandfather, the values they instilled in her at a young age, and how her faith has helped shape her leadership style, perspective, and approach to coaching. Those foundations continue to guide how she builds culture, develops players, and leads her program both on and off the court.
 

From Brazil to the Big Sky: The Global Rise of Idaho’s Arthur Moreira

This week on The Krista Redpath Show, we’re taking you Around the Big Sky in Women’s Hoops — and our next stop is Moscow, Idaho, with one of the most compelling rising leaders in college basketball: University of Idaho head coach Arthur Moreira, the first Brazilian head coach in NCAA Division I history.
In this conversation, Krista and Coach Moreira trace his journey from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where sports culture and competition shaped his early years, to the Big Sky Conference. Moreira reflects on discovering basketball in a soccer-centric country, the values he learned growing up in Brazil, and how those roots continue to influence his coaching philosophy today.
The episode also dives into Idaho’s rapid turnaround under Moreira’s leadership. In his debut season, he led the Vandals to 18 wins and a top-three seed in the Big Sky Tournament, laying the foundation for the program’s momentum as it enters Year Two. Idaho quickly became one of the elite defensive teams in the nation, ranking among the national leaders in opponent shooting percentage and rebounding.
Krista and Coach Moreira break down his defensive identity, global recruiting approach, and the evolution of the Vandals’ roster. They discuss the impact of last season’s breakout star Olivia Nelson, as well as the continued rise of current standouts Kyra Gardner and Hope Hassmann as Idaho builds toward sustained success.
This is a powerful conversation about culture, roots, defense, and how a global perspective is shaping the future of Idaho women’s basketball.

Big Sky Spotlight: Nate Harris and the Next Chapter of Lady Griz Basketball

The Krista Redpath Show is taking you Around the Big Sky in Women’s Hoops again this week — right here in Missoula, Montana.  Krista sits down with University of Montana women’s basketball head coach Nate Harris as he enters his first official season at the helm and his fifth year on the Lady Griz staff. After stepping into the interim role midseason last year, Harris guided Montana through an unforgettable Big Sky Tournament run that included upset wins over Idaho and Northern Arizona, finishing just one last-second shot shy of returning the Lady Griz to the NCAA Tournament.
Born in Sidney and raised in Ronan, Harris’s coaching journey is deeply rooted in Montana. From MSU Billings and Montana State to a Division II head coaching stop at Angelo State and back home to Missoula, his path through the game has been built on development, steady leadership, and competitive consistency. A Montana Tech graduate with a degree in mathematics, Harris brings both strategy and perspective to a program rich in tradition.
The Lady Griz are one of the most storied programs in the Big Sky and the nation — and now Harris steps fully into the responsibility of leading that tradition forward.  At the center of it all is family — his wife Elise, a Missoula native, and their four daughters, Henley, Harper, Hollyn, and Hayden — the foundation that grounds everything he does.  In this episode, Krista and Coach Harris talk about his journey to the head chair, balancing tradition with the demands of today’s game, the lessons from last season’s championship run, the current Big Sky landscape, and what lies ahead for Lady Griz basketball.
She’s been on the floor, on the sidelines, and now behind the mic — Hall of Fame coach Carla “CT” Taylor joins Krista each week on the last segment of the show for"Hoop Hits". The longtime Weber State leader brings sharp insight, experience, and a true passion for the game as the two break down the latest across the Big Sky. Montana state continues to dominate non-conference play with getting a big win in Boulder taking down Mountain West foe, Colorado.  Taylee Chirrick is named Big Sky POW for the 2nd consecutive week after hitting the game winner with seconds left on the clock.  Also, Idaho and UNC continue to impress early in non-conference play.   Coach CT gives listeners a glimpse into the challenges of holiday games plus players juggling exams.  Krista and CT preview the third-annual Big Sky-Summit League challenge, the two leagues will be playing for a combined trophy, taking both men’s and women’s results into consideration equally from 36 total games. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Leading the Hornets: A Conversation with Aaron Kallhoff

On this week’s episode of The Krista Redpath Show, we continue our journey Around the Big Sky in Women’s Hoops with a stop in Sacramento to visit with Hornets head coach Aaron Kallhoff. Now entering his third season at Sac State, Kallhoff stepped into the job immediately after the program’s historic 2022–23 run — a 25–8 season, a share of the Big Sky regular-season title, the program’s first-ever Big Sky Tournament championship, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
With key pieces departing after that landmark year, Kallhoff inherited both opportunity and challenge. In just two seasons, he has guided the Hornets to advance in the Big Sky Tournament every year, delivered a nine-win improvement, and posted the program’s second-highest win total of the last decade.
Krista and Coach Kallhoff dive into his 20-plus-year coaching journey across the junior college, mid-major, and Power Five levels; his experience developing elite players like Lauren Gustin; his recruiting philosophy; and the vision he has for Sacramento State moving forward.
They also explore the personal side of coaching — including Kallhoff’s deep love for his wife, Josie, and their three children, Camden, Caylix, and Capri. Family is at the heart of who he is and how he leads, and it’s a meaningful part of the story behind the coach you see on the sidelines.
It’s a thoughtful, detailed look at leadership, culture building, and sustaining success in one of the most competitive mid-major leagues in the country.

Inside EWU Women's Hoops with Head Coach Joddie Gleason

This week on The Krista Redpath Show, Krista sits down with Eastern Washington head coach Joddie Gleason, the 2024 Big Sky Coach of the Year who guided the Eagles to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. A former  Kodak All-American at Chico State, Gleason shares her journey from standout player to master program-builder, and offers insight on the Big Sky’s newest head coaches — Laura Dinkins at Northern Arizona and Karlie Burris at Portland State.
She also breaks down the league’s growing parity, where every night demands preparation and toughness, and gives an inside look at this year’s Eagles squad — including the impact of two Montana standouts: Kourtney Grossman of Billings, last season’s Freshman of the Year with 14 double-doubles, and Emily McElmurry of Missoula, whose deep family lineage of Division I athletes continues to shine in Cheney.

Built to Last: Idaho State's Seton Sobolewski

Head coach Seton Sobolewski joins Krista Redpath from Pocatello, Idaho, as the Idaho State Bengals gear up for another Big Sky season. Since taking the reins in 2008, Sobolewski has built one of the conference’s most consistent and respected programs — earning three Coach of the Year honors, producing dozens of All-Conference standouts, and guiding the Bengals to two Big Sky Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2012 and 2021.  We’ll talk about Pocatello, his coaching journey and what’s ahead for the Bengals this season.
 

Tricia Binford: The Bobcat Standard of Greatness

Montana State head coach Tricia Bader Binford joins The Krista Redpath Show. Now in her 21st season, Binford has built one of the Big Sky’s model programs — five-time Coach of the Year, 18 straight winning seasons, and three tournament championships. A former Boise State standout and WNBA guard for the Utah Starzz and Cleveland Rockers, she shares stories of mentorship from the late June Daugherty, Mike Daugherty, and Dan Hughes, and breaks down the championship culture that defines her Bobcat teams. Raised in Carbondale, Colorado, and grounded by family — husband Todd and kids Brooklynn and Justin — Binford’s story is one of heart, leadership, and legacy in Bozeman.
 

Dave Dickenson: Raised on Montana Grit

From the west side of Great Falls to the national spotlight, Dave Dickenson’s story is built on Montana values — resiliency, character, and leadership. A Griz legend who led Montana to its first National Championship in 1995, Dave carried that same determination into the CFL — winning the Grey Cup as a player in 2006 and again as a head coach in 2018. In this episode of The Krista Redpath Show, Dave reflects on the early influences that shaped his drive, the lessons learned from his parents and mentors, and how his Montana upbringing became the foundation for a lifetime of success.