Montana head football coach Bobby Hauck has announced his retirement, concluding a significant chapter in the program’s history. The wide receivers coach, Bobby Kennedy, has been appointed as the new head coach and will lead the team moving forward. Hauck and Montana’s athletic director, Kent Haslam, will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. to discuss the transition.
Hauck, a native of Missoula and a former player for the Grizzlies, has had an illustrious coaching career, spending a total of 14 seasons with the Grizzlies across two terms. His latest tenure began in 2018 and was highlighted by an impressive run to the FCS national championship game in 2023, alongside a semifinals appearance last season. He stands as the most successful coach in Montana and Big Sky Conference history, boasting a remarkable overall record of 151-43, including an 86-23 mark in conference play.
During his time at Montana, Hauck’s teams captured eight Big Sky championships, made 13 playoff appearances, and achieved a noteworthy 20 victories in FCS playoff games. Though his teams reached the national championship game four times (2004, 2008, 2009, and 2023), a championship title eluded him.
Last season, the Grizzlies finished with a strong 13-2 record, with both losses coming against their rivals, Montana State. Hauck’s head-to-head record against the Bobcats stands at 7-8. His final season featured one of the most prolific offenses in the program’s history, racking up a total of 6,855 yards and averaging 41 points per game.
Notably, quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat threw for an impressive 4,070 yards and 33 touchdowns, while standout players Michael Wortham and Eli Gillman also made significant contributions. Ah Yat and Gillman are returning for the 2026 season, though Wortham, a senior, will not return.
Hauck also served as head coach at UNLV from 2010 to 2014, concluding his coaching career with a 166-92 overall record.
Bobby Kennedy, who joined the Grizzlies’ staff last August, has over 30 years of coaching experience and previously won a national championship with Texas in 2005. His diverse coaching background includes positions at several prestigious programs including Rice, Stanford, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. This will be Kennedy’s first opportunity as a head coach.
In light of this coaching change, NCAA rules dictate a new transfer window will open on February 9, allowing Montana players a 15-day period to decide whether to remain with the Grizzlies or seek opportunities elsewhere. The Grizzlies are set to kick off their 2026 season on August 29 with a Big Sky matchup against Southern Utah at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
This transition marks a new beginning for both the program and Bobby Kennedy, who now has the chance to build on Hauck’s legacy and lead Montana into a promising future.