Montana and Bobby Hauck have agreed to a new three-year contract that will keep the school’s all-time winningest coach through the 2026 season. Hauck led the Grizzlies to the FCS National Championship game in the 2023 season where they lost 23-3 to South Dakota State.
Hauck’s coaching days at Montana date back to 1988 when he was the defensive backs and defensive line coach for two seasons. He spent time at UCLA (1990-92), Northern Arizona (1993-94), Colorado (1995-98), and Washington (1999-2002) before he became the head coach for the Grizzlies for the first time in 2003. From 2003 through 2009, Hauck went 80-17 with Montana including playoff appearances all seven seasons. He led the Grizzlies to three title games in 2004, 2008, and 2009.
Hauck spent five seasons in the FBS with UNLV from 2010 through 2014 where he struggled. He went 15-49 overall and had one winning season in 2013 as the Rebels went 7-6. They reached the Heart of Dallas Bowl that season but lost 36-14 to North Texas. Hauck spent the 2015 through 2017 as the special teams coordinator at San Diego State.
Hauck returned to Missoula as the head coach for the 2018 season. After a 6-5 start, Montana was back in the FCS quarterfinals a year later with a 10-4 record. In 2021, the Grizzlies defeated #20 Washington 13-7 in a classic FCS over FBS upsets en route to the quarterfinals again. After an 8-5 season that ended in the second round in 2022, Hauck and the Grizzlies clawed their way back to the summit of FCS football in 2023 before falling agonizingly short. Montana went 13-2 in 2023 and finished #2 overall.
For his career at Montana, Hauck has an overall record of 129-36 including a 74-19 record against Big Sky opponents. Montana has won or shared 8 Big Sky titles, made 12 I-AA/FCS Playoff appearances, and has a playoff record of 21-14 under Hauck in his two stints.
Photo Credit to the University of Montana Athletics
