College: University of Montana-Western, 2003

Hometown: Florence, Montana

Email: schaffin01@ugf.edu

Phone: 406-791-5921

Seasons at UGF: 2nd Season at Women's Head Basketball Coach

Accomplishments:

• Assistant Coach at UM-Western: 4 Frontier Conference Tournament Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) with a 167-44 record.

• While at UM-Western, the Lady Bulldogs qualified for the NAIA National Tournament in each of his six seasons as an assistant.

• As a head coach at Florence High School, the Lady Falcons qualified for the State Class B Tournament five straight seasons and won the championship in 1998 with a record of 25-1.

• Coach Chaffin was named Assistant to the Coach of the Year by the Montana Coaches Association in 1998-99.

Shawn Chaffin is entering his second season as Head Coach of the University of Great Falls Lady Argonauts and his 8th season of coaching women’s basketball at the collegiate level.  He was an assistant at the University of Montana-Western for six seasons prior to taking the helm at UGF. 

While the lead assistant at UM-Western, Chaffin had a record of 167-44 with 4 Frontier Conference Tournament Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006) and 3 Frontier Conference Regular Season Championships (2002, 2003, and 2006).  Western qualified for six NAIA National Tournaments in Chaffin’s six years at the Dillon school, punctuated by an Elite Eight appearance in 2002 and Sweet 16 appearances in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2006.  In addition, The Lady Bulldogs defeated NCAA Division I opponent Idaho State in 2002—the season after Idaho State swept the Big Sky Conference regular season.

Prior to his time at UM-Western, Chaffin was an assistant coach at Florence High School in Florence, Montana from 1992-2000.  In his time at Florence, the Lady Falcons qualified for the State B Tournament 5 straight times.  In 1998, the Lady Falcons won the State B Championship, finished with a record of 25-1, and Chaffin was named Assistant to Coach of the Year by the Montana Coaches Association in 1998-99.

Chaffin was also the President of the Bitterroot Bucs American Legion Baseball Program from 1998-2000, and was very involved in youth baseball for many years in the Bitterroot Valley. Chaffin graduated from the University of Montana-Western in the fall of 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education, and he is a 1991 graduate of Florence-Carlton High School.

Coach Fun Fact:  Shawn has every Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, WNBA Finals, NCAA Tournament Championship Game (Men & Women), College Football Championship, MLB All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game, WNBA All-Star Game, and Pro Bowl since 1989 recorded on tape.

Bill Himmelberg, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

College: Hamburger University, 1989

Hometown: Great Falls, MT

Email: bhimmelberg01@ugf.edu

Phone: 406-791-5919

Seasons at UGF: First Season as UGF Women's Assistant Basketball Coach

Bill Himmelberg begins his first season as an assistant women's basketball coach for the University of Great Falls.

He has been a varsity assistant and head coach of the sophomore team at CMR High School girl’s basketball program in Great Falls for the past seven years. His sophomore teams have racked up an impressive 100-29 record including an astounding 19-1 record this past season.

Previously, he was the basketball coach for the Great Falls Home School team from 1994-1999.  While he was there, they went 118-39 and finished in 5th place at the National tournament with a 42-3 record.  Before that, Himmelberg was the Head Boys Basketball Coach at the Treasure State Academy in Great Falls, where he had a 92-31 record.

He is also the owner-operator of McDonalds of Great Falls since 1983 and has received 7 outstanding store awards and some outstanding people awards.  Bill’s vast experience also includes 20 years of business and reinvestment planning.

 “I am thrilled that Coach Himmelberg is joining my staff,” said Coach Chaffin.  “Bill has a vast amount of knowledge and experience that will bring a new perspective to both myself and to our student-athletes.  Coach Himmelberg will be an outstanding mentor who can be a positive force in the lives of our players.  I feel very fortunate to have three tremendous assistants who will help lead our program and this university into the future.”  

Himmelberg’s duties will include skill development, film breakdown and recruiting. 

Coach Fun Fact:  Bill is the owner-operator of all three branches of McDonald's in Great Falls.

Traci Alexander, Head Sub-Varsity Basketball Coach

College: MSU-Northern, 1999

Hometown: Great Falls, MT

Email: talexander01@ugf.edu

Phone: 406-791-5919

Seasons at UGF: Second Season as UGF Women's Assistant Basketball Coach & Head Sub-Varsity Coach

Traci Alexander begins her second season as assistant women’s basketball coach and Head Sub-Varsity Coach for the University of Great Falls. She was on former women’s basketball coach, Roger Hatler’s staff a few years ago.

Traci is a 1999 graduate of Montana State University-Northern in Havre, MT where she obtained a degree in Exercise Science. During her junior and senior seasons at MSU-Northern, she was an Academic All-Conference Selection as well as the Defensive Player of the Year in the Frontier Conference. She currently works at Benefis Healthcare as a physical therapist in Great Falls.

During her senior year in high school, Traci’s team won the Basketball Congress International (BCI) championship. She has currently coached the BCI team for six years.

Her hobbies include being involved in any outdoor activities especially riding the four-wheeled and hiking in the mountains and she loves spending time with her four year old son.

Meghan Schwantes, Graduate Assistant/Assistant Sub-Varsity Coach

College: University of Great Falls

Hometown: Great Falls, MT

Email: mschwantes01@ugf.edu

Phone: 406-791-5919

Seasons at UGF: First Season as UGF Women's Assistant Basketball Coach & Assistant Sub-Varsity Coach (Graduate Assistant).

Meghan Schwantes begins her first season as assistant women’s basketball coach and Head Sub-Varsity Coach for the University of Great Falls.

She finished her basketball career last year after playing two years at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana and then transferring to UGF for her junior and senior seasons.

Meghan attended Great Falls High School and participated in basketball, volleyball, and softball before graduating in 2003. During the summers, she assisted in basketball camps at the Heisey Youth Center and the University of Great Falls. She has also worked at various businesses in Great Falls and is currently employed part-time at the Sting Family Restaurant.

She earned an Associate of Science degree after graduating from Dawson Community College in 2005 and when she graduates from UGF she will have a double major in Secondary and Physical Education.

Coach Fun Fact: Meghan is an avid Seattle Mariners fan and her prized possessions include autographed posters of Alex Rodriguez and Brett Boone and an autographed Tino Martinez baseball. A highlight was attending the 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star game in Seattle and then being included in a photograph from the Home Run Derby in Sports Illustrated when Barry Bonds was batting.