Bobby is back in town

When Bobby Hauck was announced as Montana’s head coach in December of 2002, the narrative wasn’t that the Griz need saving. Instead, it was about one of UM and Montana’s native sons coming home.

However, almost 15 years to the day Hauck was introduced to the Grizzlies, he was re-introduced to Griz Nation once again, only this time, he is indeed being looked at as a savior.

Hauck returned Friday as head football coach at Montana, a program he led to three FCS national championship games during an incredible run, which also included seven straight Big Sky championships and a remarkable 81 victories.

University officials said Friday that Hauck agreed to a three-year contract taking him through the 2020 season. He'll receive a base salary of $185,000. Other incentives included in the contract were not immediately detailed.

"I'm thrilled to be back as the head coach at my alma mater for the second time," Hauck said in his introductory press conference. "It's a real privilege and an honor to be the head coach here."

The coaching position came open when athletic director Kent Haslam did not renew the contract of Bob Stitt, who had a 21-14 record over three seasons as head coach which included Montana missing out on the playoffs two straight years, and losing to the Montana State Bobcats two straight times as well.

"I'm fired up," Hauck said. "I want to get back to that (speaking about what he saw Friday in the Griz Hall of Champions). We don't show pictures of scoreboards where the Griz have less than the opponent. I'm really excited to start today building this thing back up to where it needs to be. I'm reinvigorated, energized, and maybe more so just after walking here from the offices."

Hauck, a Montana native and a school alum, coached the Grizzlies from 2003 to 2009, compiling an 80-17 record. He was the head coach at UNLV from 2010-14 and spent the past three seasons as special teams coordinator and associate head coach at San Diego State.

"Our roots in this place go deep," he said. "It's just such a special day."

Haslam said he expected Hauck's previous success at Montana to continue and for the coach to work toward a culture of "hard work, respect and accountability."

Hauck addressed the issue directly Friday, saying that some players brought in during his previous tenure "conducted themselves in a manner that wasn't worthy of wearing the Grizzly uniform."

"I'm ready to do a better job on that score as well," he said. "I want to emphasize the importance of the education process, training, shaping the culture (so) that the sexual assault that has been evidenced on this campus in particular that it just can't happen."

And while Hauck addressed issues of adversity that Montana has faced, both during his first tenure, and since, he also talked at length about his expectations for the Grizzlies during his second stint as their head coach. Montana hasn’t won a Big Sky championship since the 2011 season, and that was vacated by NCAA sanctions, so in actuality, the Grizzlies haven’t held the Big Sky title since Hauck’s last season in Missoula, which included the Griz’ second straight trip to the national title game in 2009.

"I think the one difference has been the last number of years, there's not Montana at the top," Hauck said. "When Joe (Glenn) was here and Mick (Dennehy), end of Don (Read)'s tenure and my seven years here, there was always Montana at the top and some challenger.”

Now, Hauck is ready to help lead the Grizzlies back to that kind of winning.

"The four goals at this place are going to remain the same," Hauck said. "To get your degree, to win the rivalry game, to win the Big Sky championship and the national championship." 

"My expectation for us is to win championships here. We're going to do that. The only variable is time. I don't know how long it's going to take. I will have to get out on the field with our team to give you a more exact assessment of how long that's going to take. But, we're going to win championships here."