The word is painted on the court directly in front of their home bench, printed on the back of their warmups, and frequently used in messages delivered by Montgomery High School boys basketball coach Kris Grundy.
Montgomery isn’t the only program to subscribe to the word ‘family’ as a top motivation tool, but the Cougars have lived it the past two seasons and it’s led to terrific results.
The Cougars made their first-ever state final appearance this season, won a second straight Central Group 4 title and third overall, and matched last season’s 10-0 record in winning the Skyland Conference Raritan Division after winning the Valley Division last season with the same record. They have gone 50-10 overall the past two seasons.
Grundy caps his 20th season as head coach of the Cougars as the Courier News Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.
Montgomery averaged 31 points per victory this season in five postseason games. The Cougars’ state final loss to Plainfield was only their third setback to a public school in two years, with the other two coming to Lenape last year. But the Cougars avenged those losses by beating the South champs 62-32 in the state semifinals.
“We have six core values of family, passion, preparedness, selflessness, commitment, accountability. And we write that on all of our scouting reports and on the board before every game,” said Grundy, 45. He and wife Megan are parents to three boys, twins Jack and Ryan, 14 and Matty, 12.
Grundy is also in his fourth year as athletic director. Asked how he balances being a varsity coach and athletic director of a school with more than 1,500 students that offers virtually every sport possible, the University of Scranton grad simply says that he gets a lot of help.
He said varsity assistant Tommy Molarz, junior varsity coach Joe Bassford and freshman coach Erin Reynolds and longtime Cougar trainer Rob Melusky and his athletic director assistant Linda Dorell are invaluable parts of his support.
The Cougars also follow an extensive summer work program where the team meets six days a week, beginning at 6 a.m. Grundy calls it a grind, but adds the summer is what really bonds teammates. He added that the biggest upgrade for players are results of the summer training.
“What people don’t always see is the relentless work put in during the offseason, the summers lay the foundation for success and Kris maximizes his players’ potential,” said Immaculata coach Ryan McKeever, who’s Spartans play in the same division as Montgomery. “Yes Ethan (Lin) and Bohdan (Biekietov) are very good players but elevating the entire team’s level of play and getting the most out of them is the difference. “
Longtime former Montgomery football coach Zoran Milich said Grundy’s attention to detail and hours dedicated to his program are ‘unmatched.’
“I think a big part of coach Grundy’s and our success is how he always preaches family and how he always wants the best for his kids at any means possible,” said junior guard Ethan Lin. “He will always be the first one to go nuts on you, but he will also be the first one to congratulate and to cheer you on.”
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Boys basketball: Montgomery’s Kris Grundy is CN Coach of the Year
