Montana State Northern Lights & Skylights Athletics

Bob Lanning is one of only two NMC football players selected for the professional ranks and in 1968 was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He won nine letters at Big Sandy High School in football, track and basketball, played on a state champion hoop team and was named all-state forward. He lettered four years in football at NMC and made the All-Conference team three times. He also lettered in basketball. Bob began his coaching and teaching career at Big Sandy and was named head basketball coach at Havre High School in 1979, leading the Blue Ponies to three divisional titles, a third place and two fourth place state finishes, and this year -- days after the award presentation -- the schools first state championship in over 50 years. A three-time Coach of the Year nominee in boy's basketball and girl's track, Lanning has served the Montana Coach's Association as Vice President and President. Bob and the Ponies were in Butte the evening of the award presentation working on their divisional title. Rusty Danreuther, an alumnus of Bob's basketball program, accepted the award for Bob.