Carroll picks CSI’s Lundgren as coach
HELENA — Carroll College found its next men’s basketball coach in the junior college ranks — the school announced Tuesday that Ryan Lundgren of College of Southern Idaho,will succeed Kurt Paulson.
Carroll athletic director Charlie Gross spoke highly of Lundgren, who has been associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at CSI the last four seasons.
This past season the Golden Eagles finished the regular season undefeated (29-0) for the first time since 1977 and were No. 1 in the NJCAA Rankings. The Twin Falls school won Scenic West Conference titles in 2021 and 2023 and made the last three NCJAA national tournaments.
“I am pleased to welcome Ryan and Lexi Lundgren and their daughter London to Carroll and the Helena community." Gross said in a Tuesday statement from Carroll. “Ryan has a track record of being part of highly competitive basketball programs, where he has demonstrated his commitment to ensuring success on the court, achievement in the classroom, and engagement in the community.
“A shining attribute of Ryan is his emphasis on building life-long relationships with the student-athletes he coaches. With Ryan's leadership, I am confident that the Carroll basketball program will continue to compete for Frontier Conference Championships, be a perennial power in the NAIA, and model excellence in all they do."
"I am thrilled to be joining the Carroll family as the 28the head basketball coach in program history," Lundgren said. “The strong tradition of excellence at Carroll dates back many years and it is truly a blessing to be entrusted with the opportunity to carry on that storied tradition.”
Paulson, a Whitefish High graduate, stepped down after five seasons, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. His Saints teams went 115-44 and made the NAIA Tournament his first four seasons.
Lundgren got his start in coaching as director of player development for Boise State from 2011-15. Before that, 406mtsports.com noted, he was a Boise High classmate of Colbe Blaine, who just coached the College of Southern Idaho to the NAIA Tournament championship.
The Boise State graduate also was head boys basketball coach at Vallivue High School in Caldwell, Idaho, from 2015-19. His 2016-17 finished runner up at the Idaho State 4A tournament.
Lundgren’s CSI teams led the Scenic West in defensive rebounding and defensive field goal percentage the last three seasons, and Lundgren recruited and coached four NJCAA All-Americans: Isaiah Moses, Rob Whaley, Mike Hood and Deng Dut.