Former Griz Basketball Star Bob Cope to be Recognized
2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORMER GRIZ BB STAR COPE TO BE RECOGNIZED
Former University of Montana basketball star Bob Cope will be recognized prior to the
Griz-Eastern Washington Basketball game Saturday, Feb. 9. A portion of the proceeds from the
game will be donated to the Bob Cope Athletic Scholarship at the UM Foundation.
Prior to Saturday evening's game, Cope's family, will be presented an autographed
basketball from UM Athletic Director Wayne Hogan.
Cope grew up in Missoula and was an all-around standout athlete at Missoula County
High School, where he led the Spartans to the 1946 state basketball championship.
He went on to break several records at UM.
His senior season in 1949-50, he led the Grizzlies to a 27-4 record and was ranked third
in the nation with 701 points, averaging 22.6 points a game. That set a single-season record of
701 points which stood at UM for 36 years and still remains as the second most points scored in
school history. He was named an All-American following that season. He scored the 11th most
points in a season at UM in 1947-48 with 509.
He is also the co-record holder of the most points scored in a game with 40 in a game
against Gonzaga in 1948. In his four-year Grizzly career, Cope scored 1,808 points, which ranks
him third in school history.
Bob also excelled in baseball (pitcher and catcher) at UM. After serving a four-year stint
in the United States Air Force, he played professionally in the New York Yankees organization
for seven seasons, primarily as a catcher.
Cope was the head coach at Montana in the 1968-69 season, and he served as an assistant
coach to Ron Nord the previous three seasons. He was succeeded as head coach at UM by his
assistant, the late Lou Rocheleau, who was also his teammate in college
Bob was an inaugural inductee into the Grizzly Hall of Fame in 1993, joining his friend
and former teammate, Rocheleau. In 1999 he was included among the "Top 100 Montana
Athletes of the Century" by The Missoulian newspaper.
He was a teacher and served as an administrator at school in Cleveland, Ohio and in
Fairbanks, Alaska; and in Darby, Montana, where he was principal of the high school. He also
worked as a hunting and fishing guide in the Big Hole Valley; the Missoula Parks Department;
and the Royal Manor nursing home in Missoula for several years.
Cope passed away on November 28, 2001 at the age of 73. He is survived by his
daughter, Edie Cope, and Tom McIntyre of Butte, and stepdaughter Suzie Bristow of Boulder.
Contributions to the scholarship fund can be sent to The University of Montana
Foundation, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807.
-griz-
Former University of Montana basketball star Bob Cope will be recognized prior to the
Griz-Eastern Washington Basketball game Saturday, Feb. 9. A portion of the proceeds from the
game will be donated to the Bob Cope Athletic Scholarship at the UM Foundation.
Prior to Saturday evening's game, Cope's family, will be presented an autographed
basketball from UM Athletic Director Wayne Hogan.
Cope grew up in Missoula and was an all-around standout athlete at Missoula County
High School, where he led the Spartans to the 1946 state basketball championship.
He went on to break several records at UM.
His senior season in 1949-50, he led the Grizzlies to a 27-4 record and was ranked third
in the nation with 701 points, averaging 22.6 points a game. That set a single-season record of
701 points which stood at UM for 36 years and still remains as the second most points scored in
school history. He was named an All-American following that season. He scored the 11th most
points in a season at UM in 1947-48 with 509.
He is also the co-record holder of the most points scored in a game with 40 in a game
against Gonzaga in 1948. In his four-year Grizzly career, Cope scored 1,808 points, which ranks
him third in school history.
Bob also excelled in baseball (pitcher and catcher) at UM. After serving a four-year stint
in the United States Air Force, he played professionally in the New York Yankees organization
for seven seasons, primarily as a catcher.
Cope was the head coach at Montana in the 1968-69 season, and he served as an assistant
coach to Ron Nord the previous three seasons. He was succeeded as head coach at UM by his
assistant, the late Lou Rocheleau, who was also his teammate in college
Bob was an inaugural inductee into the Grizzly Hall of Fame in 1993, joining his friend
and former teammate, Rocheleau. In 1999 he was included among the "Top 100 Montana
Athletes of the Century" by The Missoulian newspaper.
He was a teacher and served as an administrator at school in Cleveland, Ohio and in
Fairbanks, Alaska; and in Darby, Montana, where he was principal of the high school. He also
worked as a hunting and fishing guide in the Big Hole Valley; the Missoula Parks Department;
and the Royal Manor nursing home in Missoula for several years.
Cope passed away on November 28, 2001 at the age of 73. He is survived by his
daughter, Edie Cope, and Tom McIntyre of Butte, and stepdaughter Suzie Bristow of Boulder.
Contributions to the scholarship fund can be sent to The University of Montana
Foundation, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807.
-griz-
March Madness Denver Pep Rally - 3/19/25
Thursday, March 20
Montana? Yes, Montana!
Wednesday, March 19
Griz Basketball Open Practice [March Madness] - 3/19/25
Wednesday, March 19
Griz Basketball Arrival To Denver [March Madness] - 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
