MISSOULA — David Koppang sat in the ESPN Missoula studio, his seemingly ever-present smile on his face and his shoulders draped with a Griz pullover proudly.
The polite, cheerful Missoula Loyola senior came to ESPN to give an interview for his most recent accolade. On the day his Rams team ventured northeast to take on perennial Class B power Fairfield, Koppang recapped his life-changing experiences as a counselor at Camp Agape, a heralded summer getaway for children who are battling cancer. For his philanthropy and his abilities as a football, basketball and track athlete earned Koppang an athlete of the week honor from ESPN and ABC/Fox Montana.
As his left the ESPN studio, he talked about his recruitment. He said he’d received interest from both the Montana State Bobcats and the Montana Grizzlies. Although the Bobcats already lured former Loyola standout Jacob Byrne, one of Koppang’s best friends, to MSU before this season and Loyola lineman Joe McElroy is verbally committed to sign with the ‘Cats in February, Koppang’s garment draping the 6-foot-1, 195-pound teenager’s upper body that day firmly signified his hopes.
The experiences serving at Camp Agape over the last three summers gave Koppang perspective. Koppang’s involvement in three sports at Loyola has taught him competitiveness. For most of the last months, Koppang has held on to the notion that a lifetime of working and hoping would result in dreams come true.
On Wednesday, it all came to fruition. Andrew Selle, Montana’s quarterback and a primary in-state recruiter for the Griz, called Koppang with the news he’d been hoping for.
Selle offered Koppang a partial scholarship to come play safety for the Griz. Koppang, the son of former Grizzly linebacker Christopher Koppang, did not hesitate. He gave his verbal commitment to Selle and UM head coach Bob Stitt on Wednesday afternoon.
“A couple days after I was at ESPN, Coach Stitt ended up calling me and asking me a couple of questions about football and family and stuff like that,” Koppang said. “The coaches started to talk to me a little bit more. That felt awesome. Coach Selle called me this morning and talked to me about being a part of the family. That’s awesome, I have chills just thinking about it.
“Then he offered me a part of the Griz. Coach Selle offered me a partial scholarship and I was in.”
Koppang has been a two-way standout for Todd Hughes’ Rams as a four-year contributor. He helped Loyola advance to the Class B state championship game last season. He played wide receiver, safety and special teams for that squad, just as he is this season. He is slated to play safety for Montana.
“Growing up, I’ve always been a Griz fan,” Koppang said. “I live in the university area so I’ve gone to every home game. My dad actually played for the Griz when he was in college so he’s had those Montana roots too. I’ve fallen in love with the Grizzlies. Sitting in Washington-Grizzly stadium, I’ve always dreamed about playing on the field. It’s always been a goal and a dream of mine. It’s come true so that’s awesome.”
Koppang has been a contributor on the varsity football, basketball and track teams for the better part of three years. He’s proven to be a versatile playmaker on both sides of the football during the falls.
With the help of Hughes and his staff and the off-season guidance of strength coach Steven Pfahler, a former All-Big Sky tight end at Montana, Loyola has been consistent in producing Big Sky Conference-level athletes.
A few have felt the pull to Bozeman, including Hughes’ own son, former MSU safety Bo Hughes. The program in place helped Loyola earn its first State B championship in 2013, the season before Todd Hughes took over. The culture established in Missoula’s private Catholic high school has given Koppang a foundation.
“Coach Hughes, all the people at Loyola have been there for me every single day,” Koppang said. “Every mistake I make, they communicate to me, they act on and the help me get better. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without them.”
Selle and UM safeties coach Shann Schillinger served as Koppang’s primary recruiters. Selle, an all-conference quarterback as a senior in 2009 and Schillinger, an All-American safety in 2009 and an NFL Draft pick in 2010 for Montana, are among the players Koppang remembers cheering on as a kid watching the Griz.
“They connect so well with kids our age,” Koppang said. “They are able to talk to us and we are able to talk to them. They are really easy to talk to.
“I remember Selle, I remember Shann. It’s funny and great to see them coaching.”
hristopher Koppang, a Bigfork native who spent two years at a Division II school in Washington, transferred to Montana in 1989. David’s father spent three years with the Griz before exhausting his eligibility in 1991 alongside former UM All-American center Chad Germer, now Montana’s offensive line coach.
‘The first thing I did was call my dad and he was so pumped up about it,” Koppang said. “You could hear him screaming on the phone. We started talking about it and he knew this was what I wanted to do. I called my mom and she was as excited. They love it. They know it’s what I want to do.”
The well-spoken, sharp Loyola senior is narrowing down his interest in either going to school to become a teacher or a physical therapist. He is also worried about Loyola improving after a 2-2 start in order to earn a bid in its second straight state title game. Getting his decision for next fall and beyond out of the way clears his mind while also giving him a physiological reaction.
“It honestly means everything,” Koppang said. “It’s honestly been a dream of mine forever. The fact that I was able to achieve it, I still have goose bumps thinking about it right now.”
Photos courtesy of Koppang family. All Rights Reserved.
