Ice cream is better with Sprinkles and so is USU

Every time the Utah State men’s basketball team scores 80 or more points in a home game, everyone in attendance gets a free scoop of ice cream from Culver’s. The team has eclipsed the 80-point mark in their first two home games, which are also the first home games for the newly appointed head coach Danny Sprinkle. The USU HURD caught on quickly and the new tradition of “Ice Cream with Sprinkles” was born.  

Sprinkle was announced as the 29th coach in USU’s history this April replacing Ryan Odom. Sprinkle is a native of Montana through and through. His dad was born in Great Falls, Montana and his mom is in Butte. Sprinkle himself grew up in Helena, Montana where he attended high school. Sprinkle was a multi-sport athlete participating in basketball, football and track. Ultimately, he went on to play Division I basketball for Montana State University.  

“I was very fortunate at Montana State, you know, they kept their word on their scholarship offer. And so I went there for basketball and you know, had the best four years I could ever ask for,” Sprinkle said. 

Heidi Bingham

Danny Sprinkle coaches his team on the sidelines during the game against the South Dakota Mines on Nov. 6.

After his four years at MSU, coach Sprinkle got into coaching, getting his first job at Cal State Northridge and then following up at Cal State Fullerton. After six years at CSF, he had the opportunity to return to his alma mater at Montana State, this time as their head coach. During his time at Montana, he led the team to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and Big Sky Championships. 

“It was awesome. I mean, it was absolutely awesome. I mean, there weren’t too many jobs that were going to lure me out of there. And, you know, I mean, the team that we would have had coming back, it’s easy to say but we would have won it again,” Sprinkle said.  

Coming to USU is an opportunity that coach Sprinkle is excited about, but the transition was a tough one for him and his staff.  

“I moved down here with the staff and it was so busy because we had to sign an entire roster and then all of a sudden by the time we finally got our last piece, which was Ian Martinez, we just finished camp, and we were right into summer practice with our team. And so there was absolutely no break until mid-August, you know, and really, we only had about a week there before we had to come back for fall semester,” Sprinkle said.  

Despite the transition, Sprinkle is excited about USU basketball and continuing the traditions of success here in Logan.  

“Cache Valley’s been awesome. I mean, the support you get here and how important you know, all of you know Aggie sports is awesome. That’s cool. And the people are about as friendly as any place in the world,” Sprinkle said. “The best thing about our fan base is they know good basketball, so you can’t cheat the game.” 

Being true to the game is something coach Sprinkle prides himself on and is what he wants to do to continue the success of Aggie basketball. When talking about his plan to be successful, Sprinkle kept it simple. 

“Offensively, play fast, but move the ball. You know, we don’t need to be taking crazy shots, take care of the basketball. And then defensively, we got to be tough, like we got to be gritty. Well, if there’s a loose ball, like we got to have three, four guys on the floor, you know, and that’s what Utah State fans expect. And you know, and that’s why they’ve had success for so long — obviously they’ve had great players but those great players, you know, they were disciplined and tough and played the right way.” 

Coach Sprinkle has had a major impact on players throughout his tenure as a coach and the same can be said for one of USU’s leading scorers, Great Osobor. He is a junior from Bradford, England who spent his first two years playing for Sprinkle at Montana State and transferred when coach Sprinkle got the job here in Logan.  

“It was an easy decision for me; once I left I was like, ‘If I’m leaving Montana State, I’m going to Utah State,’” Osobor said. The primary reason is his respect and relationship with Sprinkle. “He’s really invested in this and he cares, he really cares. Coaches might say they care or tell people they care and you can see it through his actions and through his passion. Every single game he makes you want to run through a wall for him.”  

 So far what both Osobor and Sprinkle have said has been true with the Aggies off to a hot start going 7-1 and coming off a midseason tournament championship at the Cayman Islands Classic. 

 The Danny Sprinkle era is just beginning in Logan. Through coach Sprinkle, his staff and team, USU basketball fans continue to see a high level of success and continue to keep Aggie basketball alive and well. Aggie Nation look out, because there are many more nights of Ice Cream with Sprinkles to come.