The Director

Considered a Minnesota sports pioneer, Janet Karvonen was named number fourteen in the Star Tribune’s Top 100 Sports Figures of the Century.

While taking her hometown of New York Mills, MN to three consecutive state championships, Janet scored more points (3,129) than any girl in state history and held that record until 1997. She was a first-team Parade All-American and National High School Player of the Year in 1980. Her collegiate career highlights include Final Four appearances with Old Dominion University and Louisiana Tech University.

She was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Minnesota Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2006. She is also featured in several commemorative Minnnesota sports books Fifty Years - Fifty Heroes, 75 Memorable Moments in Minnesota Sports, and Daughters of the Game.

After graduating with a BA in Journalism from Louisiana Tech University, she established her own company, Janet Karvonen, Inc, now celebrating its 20th year in business. Through the Janet Karvonen Summer Basketball Camp, she has been teaching basketball and life skills to girls ages 5-18 and boys ages 5-10. She is a television host for the Minnesota Girls’ State Basketball Tournaments and a speaker at schools, corporations and church events.

Janet is married to Dr. Alan Montgomery and they live in North Oaks with sons David, Matthew, John and daughter Sophia. Janet is a church council member at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview and a youth basketball coach for her children's teams.