Bio

Pete Conway, a prominent figure in Native American basketball communities across the West and Midwest, is entering his tenth year as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at United Tribes. A Blackfeet native, Conway previously coached at Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, Montana, where he set the school record for wins and led the team to its first appearance in the prestigious Region IX Tournament.

Since securing their last Region Championship in the early 2000s, United Tribes and its men’s basketball program have been striving to return to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament’s grand stage. Under the leadership of Coach Conway, the program has made remarkable strides. “I feel honored to have the opportunity to guide a basketball program with the rich history and tradition of United Tribes,” Conway said. “The success that Tribes has achieved within their league and on the national stage is unmatched in Indian Country. My goal is to recruit student-athletes who will excel both on and off the court, and I believe that by attracting top talent from across Indian Country, we can achieve excellence on the court, in the community, and in the classroom.” The Thunderbirds, under Conway’s leadership, narrowly missed the national tournament in his second year and won 20 games for the first time in two decades during his third season. Their success has continued, with the team reaching the Region XIII title game six times in the past nine years. Conway, now the college’s all-time leader in wins with 139, led the Thunderbirds to a historic season last year.  Finishing with an 18-14 record last season, capturing both the Region XIII and North District championships and advancing to the National Tournament for the first time since 2002. For his achievements, Conway was named Region XIII and North District Coach of the Year, and Cayden Redfield became the fourth Thunderbird under his guidance to earn All-American honors. As the Thunderbirds gear up for the 2024-2025 season, their rise continues.

Conway’s basketball journey began at Billings West High School in Montana, where he was named Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball in 1998. He went on to play for Montana State University, contributing to a Big Sky Conference Championship team in 2002 and earning All-Conference honors in 2003. Conway left MSU as the second all-time leader in three-pointers and a member of the 1,000-point club. He holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management from MSU and a Master’s in Sports Administration from Dickinson State College.

Former Athletic Director Hunter Berg praised Conway’s extensive basketball knowledge and recruiting connections in Indian Country, noting, “Pete brings a wealth of experience and familiarity with junior college basketball and recruiting contacts in Indian Country, which is a great advantage for our program.”

Basketball is a family tradition for Conway. His father, also named Pete, was an All-American at Eastern Montana College and a Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. His sister, Dana, excelled at Billings West and played for the University of Montana.

Reflecting on his family’s influence, Coach Conway said, “I am grateful for the support and opportunities athletics provided us, especially in terms of education.”

During his tenure at Little Big Horn College, Conway’s team achieved significant victories, including a school-record six Region IX wins against powerhouse teams like Sheridan and Gillette. His development of guard Quentin Everett, who later signed with Montana State, was particularly notable. Everett expressed his gratitude on social media, attributing his success and educational advancement to Conway’s mentorship. "This man Pete Conway is the reason behind my success that I have had these past two years.  He gave me the chance to play ball again and also gave me the chance to further my education.  God placed this man in my life for a reason and I am really grateful to know him.  I am able to live out my dream because he took a chance on me.” 

As Conway transitions to United Tribes, he values the experience and relationships gained at Little Big Horn College. He commented, “LBHC provided me the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level in a really talented league. I learned a lot about junior college basketball during my time there and it was an experience I will never forget. I’m proud of the progress we made at LBHC and am excited to apply those lessons here.”

Berg sees tremendous potential for the program under Conway’s direction, saying, “Pete has truly ‘walked the walk’ as a standout student-athlete himself in high school and especially at the collegiate Division I level. We often talk about setting goals, dreaming of success, and using basketball to empower our student-athletes to earn a degree. Pete knows what it takes from firsthand experience. That’s a powerful message and even more powerful when used to help future student-athletes achieve greatness.”

Berg also highlighted Conway’s admirable traits, stating, “The characteristics and traits I admire most about Pete are his humbleness and his humility. He will likely never mention all his accomplishments and we will have to pry the information out of him at times. But that only strengthens his standing as a role model and leader for our program. Pete is a true professional and we are very lucky to have him leading our program.”

Bill Lamberty, Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations at Montana State, added, “Pete is one of the finest people ever to pass through this place (Montana State Bobcat Athletics). UTTC is getting a great one! He’s a high-character guy from a great family.”