Jason McEndoo left Montana State as the longest tenured and among the most revered coaches in program history.
McEndoo was a part of five Big Sky Conference title teams during 12 years coaching offensive line at Montana State. He also played a large role in helping the Bobcats gain momentum in in-state recruiting against rival Montana. McEndoo helped MSU snap a streak of 16 straight losses to the Grizzlies as well as serving as MSU’s primary recruiter of Montana talent the last 10 years of his tenure.
Former MSU offensive line coach Jason McEndoo coaches players in 2014
On Monday, Montana State fired head coach Rob Ash after nine seasons at the helm. McEndoo worked for Ash for eight seasons before leaving in the off-season to Oklahoma State to coach tight ends and fullbacks on Mike Gundy’s staff.
McEndoo’s name was among the first mentioned as a potential replacement for Ash. McEndoo’s tenure at MSU was filled with success. His wife, Ruth, and four children all loved Bozeman. On Wednesday morning, McEndoo put all those thoughts to rest.
“At this time I am not planning on applying for the head coaching job at MSU,” McEndoo wrote in a text message to Skyline Sports. “We loved our time at MSU! It is a special place and I would love to be the head coach there someday but I have a tremendous opportunity currently at Oklahoma State — Mac.”
McEndoo, a Washington State alum, joined Mike Kramer’s staff before the 2003 season to coach the offensive line. For 12 years, McEndoo molded whatever talent was presented to him into solid if not elite Big Sky Conference front lines. Ash retained McEndoo when Kramer was fired in the spring of 2007. In 2011, he earned the American Football Coaches Association FCS Assistant Coach of the Year award after taking a group that included a converted defensive lineman, a converted fullback and a walk-on center and molding them into a unit that helped the Bobcats bulldoze their way to a second straight Big Sky Conference championship.
In 12 seasons at Montana State, McEndoo played a strong role in helping the Bobcats earn shares of five conference titles. McEndoo was a part of five wins over Montana and helped coach seven All-America players. He helped mold Mike Person into an NFL Draft pick and he also played a large role in tutoring 2015 MSU senior John Weidenaar, a first-team All-Big Sky offensive tackle with NFL aspirations himself.
Montana State athletic director Peter Fields said he wanted to have a hire in place within 10 to 14 days of Ash’s firing.
