ALL IN THE FAMILY NOW

There is perhaps no one in Havre or on the Hi-Line who has coached longer right now than Shawn Huse. The head man of the Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team has been at it a long, long time.

So long now that he's far and away the winningest all-time coach in Northern history, and probably has more wins than just about every other coach in the game in our area coaching today.

And for all of those amazing years, all of the highs and lows that come with coaching, all of the excitement, the triumphs and the heartache, Shawn has had the love of his life, front and center cheering him on.

Yes, Stephanie Huse, along with the three Huse kids, have been, undoubtedly, the biggest Lights' fans in Havre for years now. Whether it's front row in the Armory Gymnasium, watching Lights' road games online, or listening to the radio, Steph hasn't just been a coach's wife, and a mom, she's been a Northern superfan.

Steph, however, isn't an ordinary fan though, and as it turns out, she's no ordinary coach's wife, either. And for the last two years, she's added another notch to her resume of wife, mom, educator and fan. While she's still all of those things and more, now she, too, is a highly successful head coach.

Starting in the fall of 2020, Huse took over as head coach of the Havre High volleyball program. A former college volleyball player, coaching the Blue Ponies wasn't Huse' first coaching gig, but it was her first time at the helm of a varsity high school program. And as expected, she's doing just what her husband did with the Lights, she's succeeding right out of the blocks.

Since taking over at HHS, Huse has now led the Blue Ponies to back-to-back state tournament appearances - the Ponies, including daughter Molly Huse, head to Bozeman for the Class A State Tournament this weekend. Steph has also led Havre to two Northeast A Conference titles, and a pair of top-four finishes at the Eastern A tournament.,

And with her success, the Huse household, once dominated by basketball, is now even busier. From the summer to spring, the sports, and the coaching never stops, thanks to Steph's foray into the coaching ranks.

They say two is better than one. Well, that's certainly the case in the Huse household these days. And so, with Steph's volleyball season about to wrap up this weekend in Bozeman, and Shawn's hoops season just getting started, we sat down with the two of them to see just what their lives are like these days, and find out, just how special this coaching duo really is.

HDN: (Shawn), Steph has been a coach's wife for a long time. Now in the fall, you get to reverse that role and support her and Molly and the Blue Pony volleyball team. That must be a really cool experience?

Huse: "It has been surreal. I never imagined I would enjoy watching volleyball so much. Having them out there and getting to just be a fan has been absolutely awesome. Steph, Molly, and the girls with all their fast-paced teamwork and hustle have been absolutely amazing to watch. I have gained a whole new appreciation for the game these last two years. I am in total awe of what Steph and Molly and the team does. The only challenge is poor Steph has had to coach me as well at times. I mean this in terms of how to manage the house and the boys a little more than in the past. Thankfully, it's all gone pretty smooth so far."

HDN: (Steph) You've been a coach's wife for a long time now, what has it been like to step into the role of a head coach yourself?

Huse: "When considering putting in for the head coaching position, we fully understood that taking on a high school program would be a big commitment in order to do it right. Competitive high school programs are not just developed in their 3-4 month competitive season, player and program development is a year-round commitment anymore. I have really enjoyed working with my student athletes in their development and growing their knowledge and love of a game that I have loved so much."

HDN: (Steph) I know you've been involved in coaching prior to this, youth softball, etc. But what was it about now that made you feel like the timing was right to take the head coaching job of Havre High volleyball?

Huse: "It is true, I have coached a lot of the girls that play for me now in either youth softball or basketball when they were younger, playing with our daughter, Molly. I would have never dreamed of stepping into a coaching role at the high school level because I truly just wanted to be a mom, in the stands, cheering for my kid. For a long time, no one was putting in and I was getting calls to see if I was interested or would consider putting in since I played college volleyball and had coaching experience. What it boiled down to in the end was Molly and the girls. They are hardworking, coachable and driven student athletes. They were the driving force behind me making a commitment to them, in the sport that I love.

HDN: (Shawn) Steph and the Ponies have been really tough the last two years. How proud of her are you for what she's accomplishing with the volleyball team?

Huse: "Proud beyond belief. I am not surprised as Steph had a great career in volleyball and really knows the game. What a lot of people don't know is she was 1st-Team All-Conference and runner-up for player-of-the-year voting in the Frontier Conference her senior season. She is extremely organized, has done things like watching several coaching clinics at home the past two years, and has implemented a great off-season workout that she is present for every morning in the summer. I may be a coach but Steph is a notch above me. I would call her the GM. She literally sends our family a text every morning so we know what we're doing that day, who is going where for activities after school and things of that nature. Somehow she keeps our family on task and scheduled out, while helping HHS volleyball reach some big marks.

"She is the most thoughtful person I know. Heck she even takes the time to text our families and friends really quick on NFHS issues and updates right before her matches. Who thinks of that at a stressful time right before tip-off, and still goes out and coaches up big victories? Steph is truly a person who puts our kids, and the kids she coaches, and everyone else first. I am extremely happy for her and beaming with pride. No one deserves more success than a person of Steph's personality and heart."

HDN: (Shawn) It must also be really special for you to watch her and your daughter Molly achieve their dreams together?

Huse: "I literally have tears every time they take the court together. I mean I have watched it for years. Much like so many people in this great community full of volunteers, Steph has stepped up and been there every step of the way to coach and guide her and her friends in their activities and sports. We have a plethora of sports and pictures of those two on our hard drives. Including clear back to Steph the 'Dance-Mom' with her little dancer Molly. They have always communicated so well with each other. Like any parent-kid relationship, there have been pushes and pulls, but ultimately the love and understanding they have for each other has been awesome to watch. The difference now though is, Molly is a junior and this varsity volleyball experience together is kind of a culmination of it all. The sports times together for them are winding down. Thus, it is definitely something I am trying to soak in every chance I get."

HDN: (Steph) How awesome is it to have the support of Shawn and your kids in the stands for you and your volleyball team, just like you do for Lights basketball season? It must mean an awful lot to you?

Huse: "Well, to be honest, when Shawn comes to our matches, he is Molly's dad. He and the boys are her biggest fans. Of course they are there to support both of us, but he is a volleyball dad when he is in the stands. He is all in and learning about what his daughter is doing on the floor. After matches, it is fun to listen to their discussions about what happened in the match. Matthew is part of our amazing student section cheering and chanting and Braxton is running around enjoying his time in the gym with future Blue Ponies. So to me, with all that being said, there is nothing better than to have your family in a gym, happy and healthy."

HDN: (Steph) Your team has done really good the last two years. You must be very proud of the Blue Pony volleyball program and all the hard work you've put into it.

Huse: "I think a coach is as good as the dedication of their student-athletes. I have been lucky enough to be involved at a time where the players in my program are extremely dedicated and work at a very high level. I cannot express enough how easy they make my job when they put the time in, both during their competitive season and pre-season. Most of these girls are multi-sport athletes and understand the importance of not only their skill and strength development but their academics as well. I am impressed each and every day by these girls."

HDN: (Shawn) It's also Northern hoops season. I know having your family at Lights games over the years has always meant the world to you. Describe how much that means to you when you're on the sidelines and coaching.

Huse: "My family is one hundred percent vested in our team. They get to know these guys from the moment they are prospects. and sometimes even before that as I am doing my recruiting research. Whether we are at home or on the road, I know they are watching and going through every emotion I am. When they can be present, it makes it extremely special to know they got to see it. Especially after a win, of course. I will never forget Matt playing phone games with the guys on the bus when we rode home from Helena after winning the conference championship. Or Brax sitting on Adam's (Huse) lap as he worked the scorers table at volleyball games. Or Molly doing cartwheels when she was little in the lobby as I walk out to tip-off for our games. Or Steph there to console me and process things after a tough loss. Heck, she is a counselor. How lucky am I. Not sure it gets any better than all of that. I have been nothing short of blessed."

HDN: (Steph) I know you're very proud of all of Shawn's accomplishments in his coaching career. What are some things that maybe you learned from him or got inspired by him that you bring to coaching Havre High volleyball?

Huse: "I have always admired Shawn's drive, passion, work ethic and dedication to his program, players and to MSU-Northern. I have been able to watch him evolve, learn and grow coaching and I have been lucky enough to pull from his knowledge and understanding of all different aspects of coaching and sometimes feel like I haven't even touched the surface of what he knows and has learned."

HDN: (Shawn) You have the volleyball team in the postseason, the Lights have started their season. Molly plays on the Ponies, Matt is getting ready for his freshman year of basketball. Braxton in youth basketball. What is the Huse household like these days?

Huse: "Organized chaos. Every day I am filled with excitement, nerves, and anticipation. Steph has a system in place but every once in awhile we have to 'punt.' All of us families with kids in our area know what things can be like and how busy it gets. Thankfully, I have a great team of Lights student-athletes, Molly Matt and Braxton have a great group of teammates and friends, we have great personal friends with similar busy schedules, and we have family that can be up here occasionally - they all pitch in to help us from time to time. It truly is all just a part of the process, though. As corny as it may sound, Trace Adkins' song "you're gonna miss this" comes to mind for me a lot. When it's 10:30 and I am wiped and someone needs homework help until midnight, I just think about how blessed we are to have this time with them while we got it."

HDN: (Steph) Same question.

Huse: "Organized, scheduled by the hour and taken day by day. It can be overwhelming at times, but after how life got shut down, during the pandemic, our family learned that we are better in the chaos and craziness that our 'normal' life brings. We learned that we are healthier and happier going from school to work to practice to games and then starting it all over the next day. We also have an amazing support system with family and friends who help us when we get stretched thin and need a hand."

HDN: (Shawn) Your family has always been so close and sports are such a huge part of that. To have Steph now coaching and you having your program all these years, this has to be an awful lot of fun for you and your family, and you also must be very proud of everything.

Huse: "That's how we were both raised. Our families did a great job of providing us with that kind of upbringing. We are just trying to pass it forward as best we can. In my opinion, playing sports is a great way to learn life lessons, deal with challenges and adversity with class and respect, then get back up and fight and work hard with a positive attitude. You really have to be dedicated, committed, tough, know how to be a selfless team player, have time-management skills, be disciplined, and push harder when you don't think you can go any further. Our teams and our kids learning all that and experiencing some positive results is what it's all about. No matter how big or small. Those are things that are valuable in all facets for the rest of their lives. It is a blast to be a part of, and follow all of our games. But seeing them all mature and grow and develop important character is where we are really flooded with fun, satisfaction and joy right now with our teams and our kids in sports."