Montana promotes receivers coach Robin Pflugrad to head coach

Montana promotes Pflugrad to head coach

MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana promoted wide receivers coach Robin Pflugrad to head coach Thursday, a week after Bobby Hauck left for UNLV.

The 52-year-old Pflugrad (flew-GRAD) was an assistant coach for the Grizzlies from 1986 to 1994, then returned in July after three seasons as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Oregon. The former Portland State receiver coached and recruited for 13 seasons at Pac-10 schools Oregon, Washington State and Arizona State.

“I am looking forward to the challenges of the job and am excited to get on the recruiting trail,” Pflugrad said. “We had a tremendous senior class at Montana in 2009, which needs to be replaced, and that will be a daunting challenge.”

Hauck was 80-17 in seven seasons at Montana. He led the Grizzlies to seven Big Sky titles and to the Football Championship Subdivision title games in 2004, 2008 and 2009. Montana was 14-1 this season, falling 23-21 to Villanova in the championship game.

“Robin is the right person for the job,” athletic director Jim O’Day said. “He has impressive credentials and will do an outstanding job leading the Montana Grizzly football team.”