In his first season at the helm, Logie led the Bobcats to their third straight and sixth overall NCAA Tournament appearance on the back of a magical March run. Over the course of three unforgettable days in Boise, Montana State stormed through the Big Sky Tournament in Boise with three wins, defeating Montana in a thrilling championship game, 85-70, to book their ticket to March Madness. 

As the No. 5 seed, Montana State became the lowest seeded team at the Big Sky Tournament to win the title since 1994. 

For his efforts this past season, Logie was recognized as one of 16 finalists for the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Award, presented by Collegeinsider.com to the top rookie or first-year NCAA Division I head coach. The award will be given out during the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona. 

With a career record of 293-76, the head coach is currently fourth among all active NCAA men’s head coaches with at least 12 seasons in winning percentage (.794), behind only Jim Crutchfield (Nova Southeastern), Mark Few (Gonzaga), and Ben McCollum (Drake). 

Logie has made the NCAA Tournament in 12 of his 13 years as a head coach, and his teams have won at least 21 games in all but one of the full seasons he has coached.  

The native of Mercer Island, Washington, is believed to be one of just two men’s college basketball coaches ever to make the NCAA Tournament at the Division I, Division II, and Division III levels (Tobin Anderson, Iona). 
 
“My family and I are thrilled to continue leading the Bobcat Basketball family,” Logie said. “I’d like to thank Leon Costello and President Cruzado for their continued commitment and support. This community has welcomed my family here with open arms from day one and we are so excited about what we can continue to build together. The best is yet to come. The time is now to circle the wagons.” 

Logie took over a team that had lost four starters from the year prior and welcomed ten newcomers and six returning letter-winners to the fold in 2023-2024. The Bobcats brought back just 22.4% of the team’s scoring from the previous season, and were picked to finish seventh in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches’ Poll. 

Yet, the Bobcats turned heads around the league with a signature non-conference win over California in Berkeley on November 16 that not only represented Logie’s first Division I win at Montana State, but was also the Cats’ first win over a Power Five opponent since 2018. 

Additionally, Montana State scored big regular season victories over three of the top four teams in the conference at home, defeating Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, and Weber State all inside Worthington Arena. 

The Bobcats’ win over the Grizzlies in the Big Sky Tournament championship game will live on in Montana State lore as one of the great victories in program history. Three minutes into the second half, Montana State trailed, 49-38, but would go on a 41-9 run over the next 15 minutes to seal the title and keep Montana State’s nine-game winning streak at the Big Sky Tournament alive.  

The Cats became just the Big Sky’s second three-peat champion and first since Weber State in 1978-1980. 

Montana State finished first in the Big Sky in both three-point field goals made per game (9.1) and three-point field goal percentage (37.0%), and were 25th in NCAA Division I in three-point field goal percentage. The Cats connected on 319 three-point field goals, the second-most in program history, while making 9.1 triples per game, the fourth-best mark in program history. 

Defensively, the Bobcats were 39th nationally in steals per game (8.1) and finished with 289 steals as a team, the third-most in school history. 

Logie helped spearhead the development of star guard Robert Ford III, who turned in one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of Bobcat Basketball.  

Ford was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, Big Sky Tournament MVP, All-Big Sky First Team, All-Big Sky Defensive Team, and NBCA All-District Second Team after raising his scoring average from 4.4 points per game in 2022-2023 to 16.2 points per game in 2023-2024. The redshirt senior finished second in the country in steals (100), breaking Montana State’s single-season record, and finished second in the country in rebounding among players shorter than 6-foot-4 (7.6 per game). Ford became the first player in NCAA Division I since 2000 and just the fifth player overall to record at least 250 rebounds and 100 steals in a season. 

Logie was announced as Montana State’s head coach on April 17, 2023, after spending the previous four years at Division II Point Loma (2019-23) and eight years at Division III Whitworth (2011-19). 

And after leading Montana to its best season in more than a decade, that bet paid off.

Hauck entered last season’s Big Sky Conference championship campaign in a contract year. Following leading Montana to a 13-2 record that included its first league title and its first berth in the FCS national championship game since 2009, Hauck received a three-year contract extension flush with bonuses and huge earning potential, as announced by the University of Montana athletic department last week.

Hauck’s new contract went into effect on January 1 of 2024. The contract, which expires on January 31 of 2027, includes an increase in base salary from $221,813 to $265,000. He will receive a $50,000 retention bonus each April 1 that he remains the head coach at his alma mater, including on April 1 of this year.

Hauck signed the contract on January 19. Montana athletic director Kent Haslam signed the contract on January 22. UM president Seth Bodnar signed the contract on January 24. And Clay Christian, the Montana commissioner of higher education, signed the contract on January 25.

Hauck will receive a guaranteed bonus for his weekly media appearances on both the Grizzly Radio Network and through UM’s television agreement with Scripps Sports and MTN. The bonus is undisclosed. Hauck’s previous contract paid him $35,000 annually for his media guarantee.

Along with his media guarantees, Hauck will also receive a $500 per month stipend for his personal automobile. He will also receive a guaranteed bonus of for public appearances, attending Grizzly Scholarship Association events, and giving public speeches. That bonus is $40,000 annually. His previous contract paid him $20,000 annually for these appearances.

Hauck’s contract is also packed with annual performance incentives as well, including academic performance incentives. The academic bonuses are also given to Hauck’s assistant coaches.

Montana’s team cumulative grade-point average during Bob Stitt’s three academic years at the helm was 2.89.The past season, Montana had a cumulative team GPA of 3.31.

Other performance incentives in Hauck’s contract include:

• In each academic year, if the Griz achieve a GPA between 2.85-2.99, Hauck receives $4,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $500. Should the GPA be 3.00-3.09, Hauck receives $7,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $1,200. Should the GPA be between 3.10-3.19, Hauck receives $8,500 and 10 assistant coaches receive $2,200. Should the GPA be between 3.20 or higher, Hauck receives $10,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $2,500. Montana’s team GPA was 3.31 last semester.

• If the football program maintains a four-year average academic progress rate score of at least 950 as determined by the yearly NCAA APR report, Hauck receives $8,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $1,100. Montana’s APR last year was 965 and its three-year average is 977.

• If the program maintains a graduation success rate each year that is equal to or higher than the overall FCS rate for that same year as determined by the yearly NCAA federal graduation rate, Hauck will receive $8,500 and 10 assistant coaches will receive $1,100.

• If the most current APR report shows no “0-for-2” football student-athletes, Hauck receives $3,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $500. – Per the. NCAA APR handbook: “0-for-2. Under the APR calculation, a “0-for-2″ student-athlete is one who becomes academically ineligible and leaves the institution in a given academic term. These situations are the most damaging to a team’s APR because they are considered the worst academic outcomes.”

• If the Griz season attendance based on season tickets sold is 17,500, Hauck receives $5,000. If it reaches 18,000, Hauck receives $15,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $500. If it reaches 18,500 or 19,000, Hauck receives $20,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $500. Payment is cumulative, and does not include comp tickets. Montana averaged 25,069 fans during nine home games las season and sold a program record 18,761 season tickets.

• If Hauck wins the Big Sky Conference coach or co-coach of the year, he’ll receive $5,000. He earned Big Sky Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time this past season.

• If Hauck wins the Eddie Robinson coach or co-coach of the year, he’ll receive $5,000. He was a finalist this past year.

• If Montana plays one or more FBS teams during the non-conference season, Hauck will receive $75,000, 10 assistant coaches will receive $2,500 and one strength and conditioning coach will receive $2,500. As of February 1, Montana does not have a FBS opponent scheduled in 2024, 2025 or 2026, which run under the length of the new contract.

• If Montana plays seven or more regular-season home games, Hauck receives $50,000, 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach all receive $1,000. UM has seven home games on its schedule during next year’s 12-game slate.

• If Montana defeats one or more FCS team during the non-conference season that has been a qualifier in the FCS playoffs within the past two years, Hauck receives $5,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach all receive $1,000. Montana plays at North Dakota this coming fall, a team that made the FCS playoffs in 2022 and 2023. UND lost in the first round of the FCS Playoffs to Sacramento State in December.

• If Montana defeats one or more FCS team during the regular season that is ranked in the FCS Top 25 in the AFCA or STATS poll at the time of the game, Hauck receives $2,500 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach will all receive $250. The Griz went 4-0 in games against ranked opponents during last regular-season.

• If UM wins nine games during the regular season and postseason, Hauck will receive $8,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach all receive $750. Should the Griz reach 10 wins, Hauck receives $11,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach receive $2,200. Payment is not cumulative. Montana has won at least nine games in nine of Hauck’s 12 seasons at the helm. The Griz have won 10 or more games eight times, including three of the last four fall campaigns.

• If the Griz win the Big Sky Conference regular-season championship or are co-champs, Hauck receives $12,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach receive $2,700. Montana has won eight Big Sky titles under Hauck’s guidance.

• If the Griz make the playoffs, Hauck receives $5,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach receive $1,000. Montana has made the playoffs 11 times under Hauck.

• If UM gets to the second round of the playoffs (whether by a first-round win or a bye), Hauck receives $3,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach receive $1,300. If the second-round game is hosted in Missoula, Hauck receives an additional $1,000 while the others receive an additional $200. UM hosted second round playoff games in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

• If the Griz advance to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, Hauck receives $5,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach receive $1,300. Should they host the game, Hauck receives an additional $5,000 while the others receive and additional $750. Montana hosted Furman in the quarterfinals of last year’s playoffs. The Griz played at Weber State in the quarters in 2019 and at James Madison in the quarters in 2021.

• If UM advances to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs, Hauck receives $6,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach receive $1,500. Should the Griz host the game, Hauck receives an additional $7,000 while the others receive an additional $2,000. The Griz have been to the FCS Final Four five times under Hauck, but just once in his second tenure beginning in 2018.

• If Montana advances to the national championship game, Hauck receives $15,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach all receive $1,500. The Griz have played in four national title games under Hauck’s guidance.

• Should the Grizzlies win the national championship, Hauck will receive $75,000 while 10 assistant coaches and one strength and conditioning coach will all receive $6,000. Montana last won a national championship in 2001 under Joe Glenn. UM is 0-4 in national title games under Hauck.

Hauck is 49-19 since returning to UM, raising his overall record at Montana to 129-36. He has more overall wins than any coach in Big Sky Conference history. He needs 12 more Big Sky Conference wins to surpass Jerome Souers, who complied 85 Big Sky victories in his 22 seasons leading Northern Arizona.

If Hauck replicated the 2023 season, he would make $517,500 including his bonuses for playing seven regular-season games plus his undisclosed media guarantee.

If Hauck was do duplicate last season and win the national championship, Hauck would make $592,500 plus his media guarantee.

And if he were to duplicate last season, win the national championship and play an FBS opponent, he would make $667,500.

Brent Vigen tied the Montana State single-season record for wins in each of his first two seasons as the head coach of the Bobcats. That helped the 48-year-old signed a contract extension chalked full of incentives on April 1 of 2023.  

Per the contract, “each year of this Agreement, the parties will meet to mutually discuss the option to enter into a new Agreement on the terms and conditions agreed upon. Any such extension will be by separate written agreement and contingent on approval of the Commissioner of Higher Education. MSU may offer an extension at any time during each year of the Term and may begin negotiations on or after March 1 of each contract year. Such negotiations and subsequent decision on extension must be concluded no later than May 1 of each year.”

Vigen’s latest contract, which expires on January 31 of 2027, includes a base salary from $214,649.87 annually. Before signing the new four-year deal last April, Vigen was making $210,437 in annual salary.

Vigen will receive a $35,000 retention bonus in Year 1, $40,000 in year 2, 45,000 in year 3 and $50,000 in year 4 if Coach remains in the employment of the University on July 1 of each year of this contract. These retention bonuses will be paid within 30 days of each July 1 if Vigen remains the head football coach at Montana State.

Vigen will also receive a guaranteed bonus for his weekly media appearances on both the Bobcat Radio Network and through MSU’s television agreement with Scripps Sports and MTN. Vigen will be paid $40,000 per year for services related to radio show(s). He will also be paid $40,000 for his appearances on all of television shows arranged by the university. The annual “Coach’s Shows” compensation will be paid to coach in equal biweekly installments each contract year.

Along with his media guarantees, Vigen receives MSU’s “best efforts” to obtain a courtesy automobile from a local dealership.  Vigen will also receive a guaranteed bonus for “fundraising” that includes public appearances, attending Bobcat Club events, and giving public speeches. That bonus is $30,000 annually.

With his base salary, his first-year retention bonus and his pending second-year retention bonus plus his guaranteed bonuses for media and public appearances, Vigen’s guaranteed salary is $399,650.

Vigen’s contract is also flush with annual performance incentives, including academic performance incentives. The academic bonuses are also given to Vigen’s assistant coaches, as are many of the performance bonuses.

Montana State team cumulative grade-point average this past semester was 3.35.

Other performance incentives in Vigen’s contract include:

• In each academic year, if the Bobcat football team achieves a GPA between 2.70 or higher, Vigen receives $5,000 and 10 assistant coaches receive $500. Should the GPA be 2.85 or higher, Vigen receives $5,000 and his assistants receive $500. If the cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher, Vigen receives $5,000 and his assistants receive $500 each.  Montana State’s team GPA was 3.35 last semester.

•  If the program maintains a four-year average academic progress rate score of at least 985 as determined by the yearly NCAA APR report, Vigen receives $10,000. Montana State’s APR when last calculated in the 2021-2022 calendar year was 975.

• If the program maintains a graduation success rate each year as measured by the NCAA “Graduation Success Rate”, Vigen will receive the following bonuses: $7,500 for a graduation rate of 70-79 percent; another $5,000 for 80-89 percent; an additional $5,000 for 90-99 percent and another $5,000 for 100 percent.

• Vigen receives a $15,000 bonus for playing an FBS team and his assistants receive $500 each. He will receive an additional $10,000 and his assistants get $500 each for beating an FBS team. Montana State played Wyoming in 2021 in Vigen’s first game as head coach and played Oregon State in Portland in 2022. MSU plays at New Mexico to open the 2024 season. The Bobcats play at Oregon to open 2025.

• Vigen receives a $5,000 bonus for maintaining or increasing average attendance.

• Vigen will receive a $10,000 bonus for earning Big Sky Conference Coach of Co-Coach of the year and his staff receives $500 each. Vigen was the 2022 Big Sky Co-Coach of the Year.

• Vigen will receive an additional $10,000 if he is named regional or national Coach of the Year.

• If Montana State wins or shares the Big Sky Conference championship, Vigen receives a $12,500 bonus and his assistants each receive $1,000. The Bobcats won their first Big Sky title in 10 years in 2022.

• Vigen receives $5,000 for each win over teams that qualified for the FCS playoffs the previous season. Last season, MSU beat 2022 playoff qualifiers Weber State and Sacramento State. The 2024 schedule includes games against Idaho, Sac State, at UC Davis and against rival Montana.

• If Montana State wins eight games including the regular season and the post season, Vigen receivers $7,500. If MSU wins nine regular and postseason games, Vigen receivers $7,500. If the Bobcats win 10 or more games, Vigen receives $7,500. MSU won 12 games in 2021 and 2022 before winning eight last season.

• Each playoff bid earns Vigen $7,500 and his staff $500. Advancing to the second round earns Vigen $7,500. Advancing to the quarterfinals earns Vigen $10,000 and his staff $500 each. A trip to the semifinals gets Vigen $10,000 and his assistants $500 each. A trip to the FCS national championship game means a $15,000 bonus for Vigen and $500 for each assistant. A national championship game victory will earn Vigen $50,000 and his assistants $2,000 each. Montana State advanced to the FCS title game in 2021 and the semifinals in 2022. MSU’s season ended in the second round last season.

• Vigen receives Country Club dues paid for annually.

• Vigen’s contract also includes spouse travel on charter flights and bus trips at his discretion without charge.

• Vigen receives the following complimentary tickets, which can not be resold: Four season football tickets, six tickets per home game including playoff games, five tickets to all home men’s basketball games and five tickets to all women’s basketball games.

Vigen is 32-8 in his three seasons as the head coach at Montana State. He has helped the Bobcats to a conference title and has made the playoffs three seasons in a row, winning five total playoff games, including three on the way to a national runner-up finish in 2021.

With his base salary, his first-year retention bonus and his pending second-year retention bonus plus his guaranteed bonuses for media and public appearances, Vigen’s guaranteed salary is $399,650 and he earned $85,000 in bonuses last season, earning $484,650.

If he were to duplicate the success of the playoff run in 2021, beat all four playoff teams that made the playoffs last season, and add a Big Sky title and coach of the year like in 2022, Vigen could earn $614,650. An undefeated run to the national championship (including an FBS win) would earn Vigen $665,650.

The three-year contract will keep Hauck in Missoula through at least January of 2027.

“I’m excited to continue representing the Montana Grizzlies, the University of Montana, and the state of Montana as the head football coach,” Hauck said in the UM release. “Stacey (wife) and I are committed to the future of Grizzly football and want to continue to have an impact on our players, our university, and our community.

“We’ve won a lot of playoff games and been highly competitive over the last six seasons, culminating in an appearance in the national championship game this year. We want to continue to bring more championships to Montana and are looking forward to that challenge.

“I am appreciative of the University, our president Seth Bodnar, Kent Haslam, and all the other people that make this the best college football environment in the country.”

Hauck has led Montana to tremendous success during his two tenures coaching at his alma mater. Next season will mark his 13^th at the helm overall for the Griz. He has compiled 129 wins and lost just 36 games over that span. His win total, which has included a 49-19 record since returning to Montana ahead of the 2018 season, is the most by a head coach in Big Sky Conference history.

Last season, Hauck led the Grizzlies to a 13-2 record that included the program’s first outright Big Sky Conference championship since 2009. UM’s 10 straight wins included playoff victories over Delaware, Furman and North Dakota State to advance to the FCS title game, where Montana fell 23-3 to South Dakota State.

Hauck led the Griz from 2003 until 2009 as well, compiling one of the most successful seven-year stints in program and conference history. Hauck and the Grizzlies won 80 of 97 games, including 51 of 57 in Big Sky play and earned the conference crown seven seasons in a row. UM played for the FCS national title in 2004, 2008 and 2009 before Hauck left to become the head coach at UNLV, a post he held in Las Vegas for five seasons.

Since returning to his alma mater in 2018, Montana has advanced to the FCS playoffs four of the five full seasons with two quarterfinal appearances and one championship appearance.

He was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career, the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year for the third time, and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year second time following the 2023 season.

“I am excited Coach Hauck is under contract for three more years,” said Haslam, who has served as Montana’s athletic director since the spring of 2012. “The football coaching staff and student-athletes are coming off an amazing season and I am happy we are maintaining continuity in the leadership of the Griz football program. Coach Hauck is passionate about the University of Montana and developing young men both on and off the field. I appreciate his hard work and commitment.”

Hauck’s teams have also achieved great success in the classroom. Since his return in 2018, the Grizzlies have posted the best GPAs in program history, with the team averaging a 3.0 or better each semester. In his 12 years overall, 274 of Hauck’s players have earned a place on All-Big Sky Academic teams, averaging the most or second most selections each season. The Griz have also had four Academic All-America honorees in that time as well.

Hauck has also been recognized for his efforts in the community as the 2023 recipient of the Grant Teaff “Breaking the Silence” Award by the Jason Foundation at the AFCA Convention in January, honoring a head coach that has exceeded expectations as a National Awareness Ambassador, helping spread awareness of youth suicide.

Montana will open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Missouri State in Missoula for the first of seven regular season home games in the coming year.

The deals replace existing contracts, and last through the 2025-26 academic years. Costello indicated that these moves reward Vigen and Binford for the performance of their teams in competition as well as in the classroom. 

“Continuity and consistency are keys to success and retaining high performing coaches helps us accomplish this,” Costello said. “Both Coach Binford and Coach Vigen are outstanding leaders, teachers, and people and I am excited to have them as at MSU for at least four more years.” 

In 2021-2022, the Bobcats finished Binford’s 17^th season with a 22-13 overall record, including 14-6 in the Big Sky, and won the team’s third Big Sky Tournament Championship to advance to the NCAA tourney. Last season, MSU went 20-11, including 13-5 in league play. MSU shared the regular-season Big Sky title, marking the fourth regular-season BSC crown under Binford. She now has 312 wins, making her the third coach in Big Sky history with at least that many, joining former Weber State head coach Carla Taylor and former Montana head coach Robin Selvig.

Binford has developed and coached among the finest student-athletes in MSU and Big Sky history. Binford recruited and coached three of the school’s eight all-time conference MVPs, four of the five league defensive players of the year, and five of the program’s 10 all-time leading scorers. She has won three of MSU’s four Big Sky Coach of the Year awards. 

Vigen led Montana State to its first NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Championship appearance in 38 years after a 2021 season that saw the Cats tie a school record with 12 wins. Last season’s Bobcats not only thrilled the fans, but attracted them at a record rate. MSU sold out all six of its regular season games – and one of its two playoff tilts – for the first time in history. 

One of the three greatest seasons by a first-year head coach in Big Sky Conference history, MSU’s 2021 campaign also featured amazing individual performances. Five Bobcats earned All-America honors, the most in a decade, with three of them transitioning to new positions last fall. Senior linebacker Troy Andersen earned national FCS ADA and Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, while earning CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America honors and was named one of 13 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes. 

April 8, 2021 – BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State basketball coach Tricia Binford has signed a new four-year contract to remain at the helm of the Bobcat program through the 2024-25 season, announced MSU Director of Athletics Leon Costello on Thursday morning.
 
“I am excited to continue the continuity within our women’s basketball program with head coach Tricia Binford,” Costello said. “She continues to set the standard by fielding championship caliber teams on the court and in the classroom.  We are fortunate she is a Bobcat and I look forward to supporting her and the entire women’s basketball program.”
 
Since the 2007-08 campaign, Binford has not had a losing season. In the last five years, she has averaged 19.8 victories, including the school’s best-ever win/loss record of 25-6 set during the 2019-20 campaign. Binford also led MSU to back-to-back 20-win campaigns in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Binford and the Bobcats navigated the COVID-19 pandemic going 17-7 overall and 13-3 in Big Sky play with one of the youngest teams in the nation. Her 2019-20 squad advanced to the Big Sky championship game, before having the tournament shutdown due to the onset of the coronavirus. Led by five seniors, MSU went 19-1 in league play- the best mark ever recorded by a Big Sky women’s team. The Bobcats won the regular-season title by a dominating four games.

Binford’s 2017 Bobcats won the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 1993 and played in the NCAA First Round at Washington. Her 2016 team advanced to the WNIT where they faced Utah. Both squads won regular-season Big Sky titles.

“Coaching is about relationships, mentoring, building champions, and helping student-athletes succeed in life,” Binford said. “The culture we have established at Montana State is truly something special. I’m blessed and grateful for the support and opportunity entrusted to me by the incredible leadership of President Cruzado, who has had an inspirational influence on our program, and from (Director of Athletics) Leon Costello, who brings high energy to our department every day. We are going to continue to pursue excellence both on and off the court and take this program to new heights.”
 
Binford recently completed her 16^th season in Bozeman and is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in Montana State history with 270 victories. She is also only 14 wins away from overtaking legendary Brick Breeden (283) for the top spot in both men’s and women’s history. Binford is currently the longest tenured coach in the 11-member Big Sky Conference where she has registered 170 wins. She owns the most victories in league games among active coaches and ranks third all-time behind Montana’s Robin Selvig (359) and Weber State’s Carla Taylor (180).

Binford is also the first to acknowledge the holistic approach to the Bobcats’ successes.

“I get to work alongside the very best staff on a daily basis,” Binford added. “They challenge me to be better. And, finally, to all the players that I’ve been privileged to coach, you truly inspire me every day with your work ethic and commitment to the program. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I am as motivated today as the first day I took the job.”
 
All-Time Winningest Coaches in Big Sky Conference Games

1).             Robin Selvig, Montana (38)                                          359

2).             Carla Taylor, Weber State (23)                                    180

3).             Tricia Binford, Montana State (16)                           170

4).             Wendy Schuller, Eastern Washington (20)                166

5).             Seton Sobolewski, Idaho State (13)                           143

 
All-Time Winningest Coaches at Montana State University

1).           Brick Breeden, 1935-54                                                  283

2).           Tricia Binford, 2005—                                                    270

3).           Mick Durham, 1990-06                                                   246

4).           G. Ott Romney, 1922-28                                                145

5).           Schubert Dyche, 1928-35                                               110

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State Director of Athletics Leon Costello announced on Thursday that men’s basketball head coach Danny Sprinkle has signed a new four-year contract that will take him through the 2024-25 season.

“I am excited about the progress the men’s basketball program has made in a short time under coach Sprinkle,” Costello said. “He is building the program the right way with a focus on academic and athletic success. I look forward to continuing to support him and his vision for Bobcat Basketball.”

Sprinkle guided Montana State this past season to its first Big Sky Conference tournament championship appearance in 12 years. He became Montana State’s first coach to lead the men’s program to the Big Sky Championship game during his first two years.

“I’m beyond grateful to President Waded Cruzado and Athletics Director Leon Costello for their support,” Sprinkle said. “This is an aligned athletic department and university as we all share the same passion for Bobcat Athletics.

“I also want to thank my staff for all of their hard work and sacrifices. Most importantly, I would like to thank all of my players from Northridge to Fullerton to Montana State. I’m not here without every single one of them!”

This year’s conference title game showing highlighted steady improvement by the Bobcats since Sprinkle took over the reins officially on April 4, 2019.

Sprinkle became just the third Bobcat head coach to achieve winning records in his opening two seasons leading the program during MSU’s Big Sky era. He joined the likes of Bruce Haroldson (1978-80) and Roger Craft (1962-64) with back-to-back opening winning seasons. His winning percentage (.537) over the two seasons narrowly trails that of Craft (.591) and Haroldson (.558).

MSU achieved consecutive winning seasons for the first time in 19 years with its 13-10 overall record during the 2020-21 slate. The 13-10 mark was the best winning percentage for the Bobcats since Montana State’s last Big Sky regular season conference title won in 2002. The Bobcats’ two straight years of top-five finishes in the Big Sky standings and spots in the Big Sky Tournament quarterfinals are the first time MSU has completed the feat since the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

“We are going to continue to build off the success we have had so far,” Sprinkle said. “We are going to work to keep this program among the best in the conference and compete for championships for years to come.”

Earlier this week, Skyline Sports confirmed DeCuire interviewed for the head coaching opening at Colorado State. One off-season ago, he was among the top candidates to replace Cuonzo Martin at Cal.

On Wednesday, DeCuire met with Montana athletic director Kent Haslam, according to a report from Frank Gogola of the Missoulian newspaper. On Thursday, Gogola reported DeCuire has signed a 3-year contract extension that includes a $20,000 raise in base salary, various other performance incentives and an expiration date of June 30, 2021.

Multiple news outlets reported DeCuire pulled out of the Colorado State coaching search on Wednesday. CSU hired Niko Medved on Thursday. Medved spent last season at Drake and the three before that at Furman. He was an assistant on Tim Miles’ staff at CSU from 2007 until 2013.

DeCuire’s extension includes a raise from the base salary from $155,000 to $175,000 base. Because of the standard two percent raise granted to state university employees each year, DeCuire made $158,100 last season. There was a wage freeze for the 2016 fiscal year, the first of the three-year deal DeCuire signed in June of that year.

The Grizzlies just completed one of the most successful seasons in school history. DeCuire led Montana to 26 wins, the third 20-win campaign in four seasons under the direction of the former All-Big Sky Conference UM point guard. The win total fell one win shy of the school record of 27 wins set by DeCuire, Delvon Anderson and the Griz under the direction of Blaine Taylor back in 1992. DeCuire became the fastest coach in league history to post 50 conference wins.

Montana raced to a 16-2 record in league play, then pulled off three comeback wins in three days to win the Big Sky Tournament in Reno. The Big Sky postseason crown marked Montana’s 11th as a member of the Big Sky Conference and booked a ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time. The regular-season title was UM’s 10th. The trip to the Big Dance was the first for the Griz since 2013 and the first under DeCuire.

UM posted a 14-0 record at home, the first undefeated mark since the 1992 season. Junior point guard Ahmaad Rorie, a former Oregon transfer, earned first-team All-Big Sky and first-team All-District 6 honors from the National Basketball Coaches’ Association. DeCuire earned Big Sky and District 6 Coach of the Year recognition. Junior combo guard Michael Oguine was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year whole netting second-team all-league honors. Junior post Jamar Akoh earned third-team All-Big Sky honors in his first eligible season at UM after transferring from Cal State-Northridge.

UM returns those three all-league selection along with starter Bobby Moorehead, standout reserve Sayeed Pridgett and upstart freshman Timmy Falls. The Griz lose only forward Fabijan Krslovic.

DeCuire’s contract is pending approval from the commissioner of higher education Clay Christian. The three years is the most schools can offer in the state of Montana. The contract is expected to include guarantees for media and public promotional appearances as well as performance incentives for academic and athletic accomplishments.

Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved. 

“I am excited about the progress Jeff has made and continues to make with our football team,” Costello said. “He and his staff are building this program the right way, attracting high-quality student-athletes that are performing in the classroom and on the field. The foundation is set for the future of Bobcat Football.”

Choate, whose initial three-year contract began upon accepting the Bobcat job in December, 2015, enters his third season in 2018 and his new deal extends him through the 2021 campaign. The Cats posted a 4-7 campaign in 2016 before improving by a game against one of the most difficult FCS schedules last fall. The Bobcats have ranked among the nation’s top rushing teams while improving defensively each season.

“I appreciate the commitment Montana State University has made to this football program,” Choate said, “and I’m excited about the future. We’ve built a solid foundation, we have an excellent group of assistant coaches, and the support of President (Waded) Cruzado and Leon (Costello) is greatly appreciated. I look forward to the opportunity of continuing to lead this program to new heights.”

Choate and the Bobcat coaching staff open spring practice on March 3.

Press release courtesy of Bill Lamberty – Montana State Sports Information. Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved. 

Hauck, 53, coached Montana from 2003 until 2009. During his first seven-year tenure, he was on year-to-year contracts. Hauck’s salary at Montana peaked with a base of $144,500 his final season in Missoula. Hauck posted an 80-17 record his first stint in Missoula that included 31 Big Sky Conference wins in his final 32 league contests.

Hauck, officially hired on December 1, signed a 3-year contract with a base salary of $185,000 last week. The contract also includes guarantees for the Montana Coaches’ Show radio program and the Grizzly Sports Report television show. Hauck will receive a guarantee of $35,000 for his media duties. Montana State head coach Jeff Choate earns $35,000 total for similar programs produced by Learfield Sports.

The contract begins at an undetermined date as of publication and ends on January 31 of 2021. Along with his media guarantees, Hauck will also receive a $500 per month stipend for his personal automobile. He will also receive a guaranteed bonus of $20,000 for public appearances, attending Grizzly Scholarship Association events, and giving public speeches at “all reasonably requested UM athletics and GSA functions, subject to the Coach’s head coaching duties under this agreement.”

Choate receives a $25,000 guarantee for a similar clause that also includes ticket sales campaigns. Choate’s guaranteed salary was $245,000 when he signed the deal on January 1 of 2016. Assuming the standard 3-percent raise each of the last two years from the state, Choate will make a guaranteed $256,500 in his final year of his first contract at MSU.

Hauck’s guaranteed first-year salary is $240,000.

Hauck’s contract is also packed with annual performance incentives as well, including academic performance incentives totaling Montana athletic director Kent Haslam promised would be included when Hauck was hired. The academic bonuses are also given to Hauck’s assistant coaches.

Montana’s team cumulative grade-point average during Bob Stitt’s three academic years at the helm was 2.89.

Other performance incentives in Hauck’s contract include:

• A $4,000 bonus for Hauck each semester that the football team has a cumulative grade-point average between 2.85 and 2.99. Each of Hauck’s assistants will earn a $500 bonus each.
• A $6,000 bonus for Hauck each semester that the football team has a cumulative grade-point average between 3.00 and 3.09. Each of Hauck’s assistants will earn a $1,000 bonus each.
• A $7,500 bonus for Hauck each semester that the football team has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.10 or above. Each of Hauck’s assistants will earn a $2,000 bonus each.

According to the contract, the parties acknowledge that the bonuses for GPA performance are not cumulative.

• A $7,500 bonus for Hauck if the Griz maintain a four-year academic progress rating score of at least 950 as determined by the yearly NCAA APR report. Each of Hauck’s assistants will earn a $1,000 bonus each.
• A $7,500 bonus for Hauck if the Griz maintain a graduation success rate (GSR) each year that is equal to or higher than the over all Division I GSR for the same year as determined by the yearly NCAA Federal Graduation Rate/GSR report. Each of Hauck’s assistants will earn a $1,000 bonus each.
• A $3,000 bonus for Hauck if “the most current APR reports no ‘0-for-2’ football student-athletes Each of Hauck’s assistants will earn a $500 bonus each.

“When we started talking about incentives for assistant coaches, Coach Hauck talked about including the assistant coaches on that academic incentives and I had already thought about that as well,” Montana athletic director Kent Haslam said on Tuesday night. “That was something we both felt was a good way to incentivize because assistant coaches spent as much if not more time with student-athletes. Incentivizing them to focus in on grade-point averages, academic progress rates, graduation rates as well as the athletic incentives, they also have a vested interest.

“I don’t think it will change the motivation of our assistant coaches because they have all been so great about focusing on on the overall development of the student-athletes. But it does send a message that these are important.”

Other non-academic performance incentives includes:

• $5,000 if the Griz maintain or increase season attendance.
• $5,000 if Hauck earns Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year.
• $5,000 if the Griz defeat an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision team during the non-conference season that has been a qualifier in the FCS playoffs within the past two years. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,000 bonuses each. Montana plays FCS playoff qualifiers Northern Iowa and Western Illinois next season.
• $15,000 if the Griz play an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision team during the non-conference season. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,000 bonuses each. Montana’s next opponent is Oregon on Sept. 14 of 2019.
• $10,000 if the Griz defeat an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision team during the non-conference season. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,000 bonuses each.
• $5,000 if the Griz achieve 10 or more wins during the season including the regular and postseason. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,000 bonuses each.
• $5,000 if the Griz finish the regular season as conference champions, co-champions or qualify for the FCS playoffs. Hauck’s assistants will receive $2,500 bonuses each.
• $2,500 if the Griz advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs either by victory or via a bye. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,250 bonuses each.
• $2,500 if the Griz advance to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,250 bonuses each.
• $2,500 if the Griz advance to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,250 bonuses each.
• $5,000 if the Griz advance to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Hauck’s assistants will receive $1,250 bonuses each.
• $30,000 if the Griz win the FCS national championship. Hauck’s assistants will receive $5,000 bonuses each.

Each performance bonus will be paid in a lump sum to Hauck and his staff within 60 days of attainment. If Hauck were to hit all of his academic and performance incentives and lead the Grizzlies to the FCS national championship in 2018, he would make $344,000 including his media guarantee.

In 2019, if Hauck were to achieve all bonuses and lead Montana to a win over Oregon, his maximum salary would jump to $374,000 including his media guarantee because other non-conference opponents South Dakota and Monmouth made the 2017 FCS playoffs. His assistant coaches have the potential to make $21,000 in bonuses annually.

If the contract is “terminated by either party for any reason, or for no reason, or if Hauck is relieved of his duties, the coach will be paid any incentive earned as of the date of termination or discontinuance of his duties within sixty days of the date the incentive is earned.”

Clause 5C of the contract spells out the bonuses for camps and clinics put on by Hauck during the summer. Haslam must be consulted, along with UM President Seth Bodnar, for the amount of camps and the type of compensation received by Hauck and the camp’s working personnel. The revenue gathered from the camps can be distributed to Hauck and among his staff.

The contract includes two clauses — Clause 3d and Clause 4b — not included in any other head coaching contract at UM.

Clause 3d under the duties section reads:

• The University and Coach will work to create an atmosphere where assistant coaches and student athletes understand and embrace the following:

∙ Student athletes benefit by having the opportunity to develop potential as skilled performers; to grow emotionally, socially and intellectually; to travel and represent UM Intercollegiate Athletics; and to learn to be productive team members;

∙ At the same time, because of the public nature of competition, student athletes are more visible to the community than non‐athlete peers;

∙ Student athletes are representatives of the University of Montana and Intercollegiate Athletics;

∙ It is expected that student athletes will conduct themselves in a manner that brings pride to the team, the department, the campus, and the community;

∙ The University expects student athletes to train and strive for athletic excellence, to demonstrate academic honesty and integrity, to respect fellow students and athletes, and to conduct themselves as responsible citizens.

“We in the athletic department felt like getting that statement into a contract is important and it clearly states what we expect,” Haslam said. “I can tell you that this is something we want to insert into all of our coach contracts, not simply the football coach. This gives an opportunity to clearly state this and it can be something we go back to when we do evaluations.”

Clause 4b under the ‘Conduct of the UM football program” clause reads:

• Coach, assistant coaches, others who report directly or indirectly to Coach, and student athletes shall foster a culture of collaboration within the department, across campus, and within the community.

This shall include, but not be limited to the following:

∙ Student athlete annual bystander intervention training

∙ Student athlete annual training on the Student‐Athlete Conduct Code, Student Conduct Code and the University Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Stalking and Retaliation policy and procedures and how those policies relate to one another

∙ Football staff training on the Student Athlete Conduct Code, Student Conduct Code and the University Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Stalking and Retaliation policy and procedures and how those policies relate to one another

“Again, it’s important to clearly state it,” Haslam said. “These are things we do regularly but now it holds the coach and the administration accountable that this is getting done and follow up on. It’s a good reminder. There are so many great avenues for training already on this campus that our student athletes are integrated fully. But there is some unique trainings we do within athletics that are important of student-athletes as well.

“This isn’t being inserted into the football coach’s contract. It’s important for all coaches. It’s a good reminder for us to always think on what our core values are.”

Other clauses in the contract include: Hauck must inform UM athletics if he is looking for other jobs if more than six months remain on his existing deal; Hauck must provide income and revenue statements for the program each September; Hauck can be terminated at any time but must be provided written notice and given a week to appeal; If fired, Hauck would still receive a pro-rated salary until the contract’s completion but he would have to pay back all liquidated damages that stem from his termination.

The 2018 season will mark the first as a head coach for Hauck since he resigned at UNLV at the end of the 2014 season. He has spent the last three seasons as the special teams coordinator and associate head coach at San Diego State. The former Montana track standout and Big Timber native started his coaching career as a graduate assistant on Don Read’s staff in 1988. He was a GA at UCLA from 1990 until 1992 before taking his first full-time assistant position at Northern Arizona in 1993. He spent 1995 until 1998 on Rick Neuheisel’s staff at Colorado before moving from CU to Washington with Neuheisel in 1999, where he stayed through 2002 before being hired as the head coach of his alma mater for the first time.

Kyle Sample acquired the contract via FOIA request and contributed to to this story. Photos attributed. All Rights Reserved.