Coach Gunderson was at the Lady Pirate helm for 4 seasons. He unified the boys and girls track and field program under one head coach in 2008. His Lady Pirates were the state champions in 2008, defeating two-time defending champion Belgrade 77-66. The Lady Pirates won the divisional and finished 3rd at state in 2009. They repeated as divisional and state champs again in 2010.
Coach Gunderson was nominated as the Montana Class A Girls Track Coach of the Year 3 times and selected two times (2008, 2010). He was the Section 8 Regional Track Coach of the Year (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska) twice (1997 and 2011). Gunderson was also nominated for National Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and 2011. He was nominated and elected to the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March of 2000. He was inducted into the HOF at ceremonies held during the MCA coaching clinic in Great Falls on August 3, 2000.
Bob Gunderson (Karen) – Class of 2000
Longevity and Service
44 Years
- 1969-71: Havre High School – Asst. Boys’ Basketball, Asst. Boys’ T&F
- 1971-73: Plains High School – Asst. Football, Boys’ Basketball
- 1973-76: Chester High School – Asst. Football, Boys’ Basketball
- 1976-2013: Polson High School – Cross Country, Girls’ Basketball, Asst. Boys’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, Asst. Girls’ T&F, Boys’ T&F (34 yrs,)
Success
- Divisional Champion Boys Track & Field 8 times(1984, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999) , 13 2nd place finishes, 2 3rd place finishes
- Divisional Champions Girls Track & field (2009. 2010), 2nd place Girls Track & Field 2008
- 5 consecutive subdivision championship finishes in the 80’s
- State Third Place Boys Track & Field (1980, 1981, 1983)
- State Third Place Girls Track & Field (2009)
- State Runner-Up Boys Track & Field (1984, 1995, 1997, 1999)
- State Champion Boys Track & Field (1981, 1996)
- State Champions Girls TRack & Field (2008, 2010)
Professional Service and Honors
- MCA Hall of Fame 2000
- MCA Coach of the Year: Class A Boys’ T&F – 1981, 1996
- MCA Coach of the Year: Class A Girls T&F – 2008, 2010
- Nominated MCA Coach of the Year: 13 times
- MCA 40 Year award
- MCA Member: 40+ years
- Region 8 Track and Field Coach of the Year (1997, 2012)
- Nominated National Coach of the Year 2012
- Basketball MOA: 19 years
- Big Sky State Games: Volunteer Official
- TAC Coach and Volunteer
- AAU Track and Field Coach and Volunteer
- 50 plus Individual State Champions
- 1 High School All-American 1986
- 1 Gatorade Player of the Year 1996
- As an assistant Coach at Havre( 1969, 1970): part of 1 state Track & Field Championship, a 3rd place finish and an Eastern A Divisional Championship
As an assistant girls track coach at Polson: part of 2 State Track & Field Championships(2003, 2004) and a State 3rd place finish (2000)