Head coach Bob Montana has had a solid string of successes in his 17 years guiding the Dutchmen, including 12 post-season tournament appearances.
The Dutchmen finished the 2012-13 season with a record of 20-6, posting the sixth 20 win season in program history since the first season in 1898-99. Senior Keven Donohue was selected as a Jostens Trophy finalist and named to the D3Hoops.com All East Region Team, the ECAC Division III Upstate Men's Basketball All Star First Team and Liberty League First Team (unanimously). He also was named to named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches to the 2013 NABC Coaches' Division III All-East District Second Team.
Montana led Union to its most successful period in its proud basketball history from 1998-2006, taking the Dutchmen to post-season all eight years, getting to the Liberty League Conference Championship game four of five years, winning it twice, while winning 137 games. He has a career record of 228-193; rebuilding the program starting with the 1996-97 campaign. He has the second most victories of the 18 all-time coaches since the program began in the 1898-99 season. He is the only coach in Union men's basketball annals to have eight consecutive winning seasons.
Seven players recruited and coached by Montana have scored 1,000 points or more and he has had the distinction of coaching the top two scorers in Union’s 116 year basketball history. Aaron Galletta graduated as the college’s all time leading scorer in 2002 with 1,949 points and four years later was replaced as all time leading scorer by John Cagianello who had scored 2,006 points when he graduated in 2006.
Under Montana's leadership and direction, the Dutchmen have been invited to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament twice and the ECAC Upstate New York postseason tournament five times. He was voted the UCAA's "Coach of the Year" twice, in 2001-02 and 1997-98. In addition, Montana, along with Assistant Coach Pete Durr, earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in 2013.
His 2001-02 team tied the school record for wins with 21 on the way to the UCAA regular season and tournament titles. The ’01-’02 team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Montana also led the 2004-05 Dutchmen to the Liberty League Tournament Title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tourney.
The Dutchmen have been invited to the ECAC Post Season Tournament five years under Montana. The Dutchmen earned the number one seed in 2003-04, when the team finished 20-8. The 2003-04 and the 1999-2000 teams both advanced to the ECAC Post Season Tournament Championship game finishing second both years.
In 2002 and 2005 Coach Montana and his program were awarded the Schoenfeld Award by the Collegiate Basketball Officials Association. The Schoenfeld Award is an annual award given to a college or university which the Collegiate Basketball Officials Association (CBOA) identifies as having "the highest degree of sportsmanship, character, and ethics among their players, coaches and spectators." The award is the highest honor that the CBOA annually bestows on any collegiate institution.
Coach Montana’s is not only a skilled teacher and coach of the game of basketball but also a mentor to his student-athletes. His thoughts about Union College and basketball follow below.
A MESSAGE FROM COACH MONTANA Union offers every student-athlete outstanding opportunities; the opportunity to be challenged and to achieve academically, socially and athletically. As a student at Union, you will be able to take advantage of our nationally recognized General Education curriculum as well as the close-knit atmosphere provided by a college that has a community of 2,200.This course of study combined with the personal relationships that you will establish, provides the basis for an outstanding educational experience. You and your classmates will have achieved high standards at the high school and preparatory school level. You will come from different back-grounds and locations and have interests that are just as diverse Your common thread as you enter your college years will be your desire to grow as a person and your drive to succeed. A Union education offers you the opportunity to do both.
Union will also challenge you athletically. We are members of the highly competitive Liberty League Conference; Union basketball plays one of the most competitive schedules in Division III. The Liberty League regularly sends three or four teams to post-season play, both the NCAA and the ECAC tournament. Our goals at Union include mentoring successful student-athletes to achieve their career goals while being regular post-season competitors. Union hosts one of the top tournaments in the East each year, while playing in at least one other tournament to complete a challenging non-league schedule.
Union’s basketball alumni have the same characteristics as all Union graduates; their professions are varied, and each has been successful in their chosen endeavors. You will be a member of our basketball family, not just for the four years in which you compete but for a lifetime. Union alumni are active and involved in supporting the college and its programs. Our alumni have placed Union in the top one per cent of all four-year colleges based on the percentage of alumni who participate in our annual giving program.
There is no question that your Union experience will provide you with a quality education, as well as a network to serve as a springboard to your chosen career.
Basketball at Union will continue to feed your passion for the game, while at the same time help to develop important lifelong qualities. We will strive for excellence, as you will throughout your life, and enjoy the experiences that the competition provides.
Coach Bob Montana’s Career at a Glance | 2012-13 | 20-6 (12-4) | Program's 6th 20 win season in history,
Montana's 3rd 20 win season
Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty League Playoffs |
| 2011-12 | 16-9 (9-7) | Liberty League Playoffs |
| 2010-11 | 11-14 (4-10) | |
| 2009-10 | 12-13 (8-8) | Liberty League Playoffs |
2008-09
2007-08 | 13-11 (5-8)
9-15 (5-9) | |
| 2006-07 | 11-14 (8-6) | Liberty League Playoffs |
| 2005-06 | 17-11 (9-5) | 8th straight winning season, ECAC Tournament |
| 2004-05 | 17-12 (8-6) | NCAA Tournament, Liberty League Champions |
| 2003-04 | 20-8 (8-6) | #1 Seed ECAC Tournament, 2nd 20 win season |
| 2002-03 | 17-12 (8-6) | ECAC Tournament, 2nd place UCAA |
| 2001-02 | 21-8 (11-3) | NCAA Tournament, UCAA Champions,
UCAA Coach of the year |
| 2000-01 | 13-12 (7-7) | Third Straight Winning Season |
| 1999-2000 | 17-12 (5-7) | ECAC Tournament runners-up |
| 1998-99 | 15-11 (7-5) | ECAC Tournament |
| 1997-98 | 11-14 (5-7) | UCAA Coach of the Year |
| 1996-97 | 7-18 (4-8) | |
TOTAL: 248-199 (128-120)
Accomplishments:Two-Time UCAA "Coach of the Year."
Liberty League (previously UCAA) Coach of the Year.
10 post-season invitations in last 13 years, five ECACs and two NCAAs.
One UCAA regular-season championship and one UCAA postseason tournament title.
Three 20-win seasons.
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