FORT SHAW, Mont. – The Montana Coaches Association announced that University of Providence cross country and track and field head coach Tony Arntson will be one of nine coaches inducted into the MCA Hall of Fame this summer.

"It's very humbling," Arntson said. "There's obviously a lot of great people in there and a lot of good people that I was very fortunate to be mentored by. It's a great honor. I really didn't know it was coming. It's not something that I set a goal for, but it's a great honor and I'm really proud to join that group of people. It's a great honor and I'm really excited about it."

Arntson began working in athletics at his alma mater, the University of Montana, as a graduate assistant following his graduation. He was the quarterback for the Grizzlies during his four-year collegiate career at the University of Montana earning a B.A. in business and physical education.

Arntson has been coaching in the state of Montana for 29 years. Arntson began his high school coaching career in 1989 as an assistant coach at Charles M. Russell High School. Two years later, he began his head coaching career at Charlo High School as the head track coach and football coach. He served as the Viking head coach for three years, earning a pair of Top 3 finishes at state.

Arntson then moved on to serve as the head football coach at Helena High School, where he coached for 24 years. Arntson led the Bengals to the state AA semifinals 11 times and the state championship game three times. He also coached the Bengal track and field program for 17 years. As the track and field coach, Arntson led the Bengals to two state championships, four runner-up finishes and four third-place finishes. He was named the MCA AA Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2015.

Arntson joined the Carroll football program as an assistant football coach before taking the job at Providence.

"After I processed the news I texted every one of my old staff members and thanked them," Arntson said. "I have to thank the kids and the parents. All of the way through, the one thing that kept me excited to go to work every day was our kids and their parents that bought into their program right away. It was a big change for them."

"I got to coach my two sons," he said. "You can't ask for much more than that. And then obviously my wife for sure. She had to endure all those nights that I wasn't sure if this was really what I wanted to do. I moved her out of California and moved her to little tiny town in Charlo to try to build an eight-man football program."

Arntson will be the second head coach at the University of Providence to be a member of the MCA Hall of Fame when he is officially inducted this summer; head men's basketball coach Steve Keller is also a member. Assistant men's basketball coach  Mike McLean is also a member of the MCA.

"I don't think it will sink in until I get there," Artnston said. "When you see the guys that did mentor you, or that you watched forever and respected so much, that's when it sets in. I've been so fortunate to be exposed to those kind of people throughout my entire career."