1982-83 Billings Volcanos program from the Continental Basketball Association

Billings Volcanos

Continental Basketball Association (1980-1983)

Tombstone

Born: July 1980 – The Hawaii Volcanos relocate to Billings, MT
Folded: July 1983

First Game: November 21, 1980 (W 102-99 vs. Anchorage Northern Knights)
Last Game: March 13, 1983 (L 111-107 @ Wyoming Wildcatters)

CBA Championships: None

Arena

Yellowstone Metra (10,500)
Opened: 1975

Marketing

Team Colors: Scarlet & Gold

Ownership

Owners: 

 

Background

The Billings Volcanos were a minor league basketball outfit in the Continental Basketball Association for three seasons from 1980 to 1983.  The franchise started out in Honolulu in 1979 where the club first gained its misspelled name. The team moved across the country to Billings after only one season in Hawaii.

During the club’s first season in Montana, management narrowed the list of head coaching finalists to two candidates.  Ultimately they selected “Diamond” Dick Hammond, a youth basketball coach from Nashua, New Hampshire.  The runner-up?  NBA veteran Phil Jackson, also seeking his first pro coaching gig.  Jackson would later hook on with the CBA’s Albany Patroons, before moving up to the NBA and winning 11 world championships.  Dick Hammond does not have a Wikipedia page.

During the 1981-82 season, the Volcanos signed former University of Pittsburgh star Sam Clancy.  Midway through the season, Clancy slugged Ron Valentine of the Montana Golden Nuggets and broke his cheekbone during a game at the METRA in Billings. Valentine was one of the top scorers in the CBA at the time. Clancy was suspended three weeks. Although he didn’t play football at Pitt, Clancy later signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League in 1984, thus beginning a 10-year pro football career as a defensive end in the USFL and the NFL.

Billings appeared in the CBA championship series at the end of the 1981-82 season, losing to the Lancaster Lightning 4 games to 1.

The Volcanos folded during the summer of 1983.

1981-82 Billings Volcanos program from the Continental Basketball Association

 

Billings Volcanos Shop

 

 

Downloads

1980-81 Volcanos vs. Montana Golden Nuggets Scorecard

1980-81 Billing Volcanos Scorecard

 

Links

Continental Basketball Association Media Guides

Continental Basketball Association Programs

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Comments

One Response

  1. Dear Andy

    Phil Jackson was not the runner up for head basketball coach. He was the first choice. He turned down the offer because owner Jim West would not give Jackson $600 in moving expenses from N.Y. to Billings.

    Warren Harris

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