Ty Gregorak shook up the Treasure State football world earlier this week.
If there’s one thing the former Montana Grizzlies defensive coordinator wants people to know it’s that his move to serve a similar role for the Montana State Bobcats centered upon one primary factor: Gregorak has a deep desire to work for new MSU head coach Jeff Choate.
Gregorak, a Spokane native who played his college ball at Colorado, spent 12 of the last 13 seasons coaching linebackers at Montana. He’s served the last four as Montana’s defensive coordinator. Gregorak has coached 30 All-Big Sky Conference linebackers, helped the Griz claim share of eight Big Sky titles and has been to the FCS playoffs 11 times.
Gregorak helped players like Brock Coyle, Jordan Tripp, John Kanongata and Caleb McSurdy develop into professional football linebackers. Coyle currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks. Tripp made his first career start for the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
On Monday, Gregorak sent shock waves through the Treasure State with his announcement that he would leave the place he’s called home for most of the last decade and a half to move across the Great Divide to Bozeman. On Tuesday, Gregorak caught up with Skyline Sports for an interview about his decision to make a move.
Skyline Sports: Thanks for taking some time, Ty.
Gregorak: “Of course, any time. The thing that has been so funny about all of this is everyone wants an answer.
“(Montana head coach) Bob (Stitt) and I get along fine. We shook hands. My wife (former Montana State volleyball player Kandice Kelly) is not getting a job. She told me somebody called her today saying she was going to work for the ‘Cats too. That’s absolutely not true. It’s crazy what people are trying to…like why? How? How could he do this?
“Listen, I spent 12 years with the Montana Grizzlies and I love the Griz. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Jeff Choate. He’s compiling a heck of a staff. I’m fired up about it. I am just really excited to see what we can do.”
SS: I related so well with the comment you gave to Bill Speltz of the Missoulian about how if you told 24-year-old Ty that you would still be in Missoula 15 years later, there’s a part of you that would not be satisfied with that. I once had a plan when I first came back to Montana that I would leave again and here I am.
Gregorak: “And perspectives change too. One of the things I texted Jeff last night was I’m not doing this for him to help me move on or whatever. I’m doing this so I can do the best job I know how to do for Montana State. Like my opinion of this place, if you do a good job, and you get an opportunity to take a job at the next level, then cool. But if not, at least you in a great place with a great program coaching great kids.
Ty Gregorak
“When I took the job at Montana as a young guys, then I did feel that way. But now, shoot, in my opinion, once I go to work for that place (Montana State), I’ll have gone to work for the two best schools in the conference. Both are in the same state. We have the two best fan bases.
“Perspectives change, Colter. I’m not from Montana. I’m not from here but after 12 years, I consider myself a Montanan. I spent the last 12 years three hours away from my home. Now we will spend the next however long very, very close to my wife’s home (Roundup). That’s pretty cool. That’s really cool for our kids.”
SS: You guys will really like Bozeman, I think. It’s a whole different world than Missoula but it’s cool in different ways. The quality of life is hard to beat.
Gregorak: “I’ve heard that and I know Kandice loved her experience as a volleyball player there. She has a lot of friends and connections. I even have family there myself. I have a first cousin who is an attorney. She’s excited. Without anyone having to read between the lines, I’m really fired up about working with Jeff. That’s really the honest truth. I’m excited to get to work with him and Kane Ioane and the guys he’s bringing in. It’s going to be fun.
“I’m excited and Kandice is excited. It’s been a hard couple of days just because the move itself, the school we are leaving for the one we are leaving for. It’s the rival. It’s one of the great rivalries in all of college football. For everyone in this area, it’s an awesome game. People don’t talk about it on a national level like they would the Iron Bowl (Auburn-Alabama) or the Big Game (Michigan-Ohio State) but man, if you are from this neck of the woods, it’s really cool to be a part of this game.
“I’ll be able to bring my experience and my knowledge of the game. Shoot, I’ve coached in 12 of them and won nine of them. I can tell you that losing those three games — 2003, 2005, 2012 and it’s not fun at all.”
Gregorak joined Bobby Hauck’s staff at Montana in 2003. During Hauck’s seven seasons in Missoula, the Griz compiled a 80-17 record and won all seven Big Sky titles. UM advanced to the FCS national title game in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Following the 2009 season, Hauck and the majority of his staff left for Nevada-Las Vegas. After a bizarre incident in Boulder, Colorado, Gregorak was relieved of his duties. No charges were filed and Gregorak spent the 2010 season coaching tight ends at Central Washington in Ellensburg. (click here for more details)
In 2011, Gregorak returned to Montana on Robin Pflugrad’s staff. When Pflugrad was fired, interim head coach Mick Delaney retained him and promoted him to defensive coordinator.
SS: You said you really wanted to come work for Jeff. The timeline of this, when did he approach you? Was it pretty early on after you were hired?
Gregorak: “We got home from Fargo Saturday night. He and I talked first thing Sunday morning. (Montana lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs to four-time defending champion North Dakota State).
SS: A whirlwind. What were all the factors you weighed when making this decision?
Gregorak: “Just my knowledge of Jeff, we come from the same coaching circles so to speak, coaching tree. We grew up in the same area (Choate is from Saint Maries, Idaho). I know without ever working with him what he is about in terms of his coaching style.
“And I did some checking around too. I called some guys I trust that knew Jeff very well. Colter, it seems like a really good fit for me. Don’t think that I don’t think it’s not a selfish decision over here in Griz Nation. I’m leaving my home. This is my home. But the decision was made because of a huge excitement on my part for getting to work with Jeff.”
Last season, Montana gave up 24.5 points and 380 yards per game, each top three totals in the Big Sky Conference. The Griz ranked among the FCS leaders with 43 sacks. Tyrone Holmes is a finalist for the FCS Defensive Player of the Year after piling up 18 sacks during his final season.
Montana defensive end Tyrone Holmes lead the nation with 18 sacks/ by Brooks Nuanez
SS: Schematically, will you run similar stuff defensively as what you ran in Missoula? What philosophies will you bring to Montana State?
Gregorak: “Like I’ve told a couple of guys in your position that have asked me that, without really being fair, I just would like to evaluate the personnel MSU has in place right now. I have beliefs with what I want to do defensively but all of us will.
“Jeff will. Kane has been there a long time. The thing is, Colter, it was not that long ago that Montana State was playing really good football. They were playing really good defense. It’s such a what have you done for me lately in college sports and any sports anymore. Man, it wasn’t that long ago that they had Buck Buchanan winners. Back to back.
“When I came back (in 2011), they were playing outstanding defense. Outstanding. I have an idea of what I would like to do, absolutely. You have seen what has been going here for four years. It hasn’t been perfect. Especially the last couple of years, I think we’ve played some really good defense. It hasn’t been great. But it’s been good defense. Something I will always want to hang my hat on is turnovers and I know that is something MSU probably needs to get back to doing is taking away the football.
“Statistics can be a funny thing as you and I both know. To me, if you are really, really good at scoring defense and taking away the football and getting off the field on third down, you have a chance to be a great defense.
“You have to win on third downs. We were really good on third this year. We were pretty darn good at taking away the football. And our scoring defense, in my opinion, you want to be around, in terms of championship defense, you want to be between 14 and 17 points. Two scores and a field goal. We need to trim that a little bit.
“You and I both know that scoring defense is all points. Whether it’s a turnover or a special teams turnover or a special teams or defensive score, it doesn’t matter. If we are giving up two or two and a half touchdowns per game, or less, that’s pretty darn good defense. I would always love less but college football is that offenses are so dang good and can move the ball between the 20s. And then you have to buckle down.
“I think in my tenure we’ve been pretty good in the red zone. That’s another thing I hope to bring. I want the mentality of , ‘OK, they have the ball down here but now we are going to stop you.”
SS: With all the rule changes and all the implementation of the run-pass option offenses in the Big Sky, everybody got crazy with the offensive thing these last few years. But then it kind of came around this year with the three teams that made the playoffs (Montana, Southern Utah, Portland State) from the Big Sky were the three teams in the league that played defense.
Gregorak: “It’s an age-old formula that you have to play some defense. You’re right. Eastern Washington and Montana State in particular were really, really dynamic on offense. I walked away from the game in Bozeman…we jumped out and played so well early and then that quarterback (Dakota Prukop) and that offense got clicking in the third quarter and man, I was not a happy camper. Out of respect to them, they had a dang good offense. Very dynamic, a lot of different looks, a lot to prepare for.I walked away from that game going, ‘That quarterback is slippery and that outfit is pretty darn good.’
“As always, my answers are too long but it’s third down defense, scoring defense, rushing the passer and turning the ball over. We have to be ball hawkers and really have a good time.We have to get that swagger back that I know those guys had on defense a few years back. They thought they could stop anybody. That’s what we have to get back.”
SS: What do you think of the staff you are inheriting?
Choate hired former Boise State linebacker Byron Hout as the defensive line coach. Choate appointed Gerald Alexander, who played five years in the NFL, as the secondary coach. Ioane, an MSU player or assistant since 2000 and MSU’s defensive coordinator in 2015, was retained and will coach linebackers.
Gregorak: “I’m fired up. Couldn’t be more fired up. Legi (Suiaunoa, Montana defensive line coach) for five years. We went through the change together. Not working with Legi Suiaunoa is going to be really hard because he’s a really fantastic defensive line coach.
“But I think Byron is a great young coach. He was a fantastic college football player. Gerald was a great player and will be a great coach. And obviously Kane. I called all three of them yesterday, Gerald, Kane and Byron and said I’m fired up and that I can’t wait to get this thing going and I’m excited to work with you guys.”
SS: On the Montana side of things, what was it like telling those kids you were leaving?
Gregorak: “It was hard. So hard. The public perception and whatever the opinions, that’s one thing. People will always come to their own conclusions and whatever. But telling the players is the hardest part. I have to tell you, all the former players have been the ones who have been so great.
“’Coach, we know you. We know who you are, we know what you did for us, you know what you’ve done for the program. We get it. We wish you the best of luck.’ They’ve been great. I’ve heard from (Indianapolis Colts safety) Colt (Anderson), Jordy, Brock, (Chicago Bears wide receiver) Marc (Mariani). Those are just the ones who are still playing. A long list of guys have reached out.
“The guys who know me, Colter, have been great. The people between my friends and the community, the people I’ve become friends with over the last four years, they have been awesome. The current players, I get it. Some of them are upset. I get it. They are 18 to 23 years old and their position coach and their d-coordinator left. That’s tough.
“But I also think I’ve been able to give the fronts, the linebackers, the defense a level of continuity that a lot of programs don’t have and don’t get. Every linebacker that has come through Montana since 2003 has had one coach. Even when I left in 2010, all those guys were under classmen. They got to start and finish their career with the same coach. Caleb McSurdy and Alex Shaw.
“I think it was harder for me. Telling my young guys, guys like Conner Strahm and Josh Buss and the guys who are coming back. It hasn’t been easy but it doesn’t change the way I feel about these guys.
“I love my players. I love my guys. They go to war with me and for Montana. That was a hard day yesterday (Monday). I even have a few more today because it’s important for me to see these guys, look them in the eye, shake their hand and tell them goodbye. It’s been tough but I’m excited to get to work with the new group.
“It wasn’t easy going to a rival school and I knew that would be a hard pill to swallow.”
SS: I know you had a good break there with Stitt but just in general, did the new coaching regime and another coaching change play into this decision?
Gregorak: “No. I really like the things Bob brought with him. Young, good group of guys. They fit in with Legi and myself. And even outside the holdovers, he still brought back (former UM quarterback) Andrew Selle, (former UM wide receiver) Mike Ferriter, guys not just with playing experience but real ties to the Montana program. He has a good staff. I meant it when I say that I wish them nothing but the best of luck and I hope they win every game next year except one on November.”
SS: You are certainly not the first guy to coach on both sides of the rivalry. Mick Dennehy, Mick Delaney are a few names that come to mind. Did you consult with them at all during this process? If so, what did they tell you?
Mick Delaney
Gregoarak: “Both had nothing but positives to say about it. It’s hard because we all get so wrapped up into the rivalry. But both of those guys were very complimentary of Bozeman itself as a town, the program, the kind of kids that we will get to coach.
“I did lean on those two because I trust them. They are Montana guys who get it. I did want both their opinion on it and I did reach out to both of them.”
SS: Did you watch any film to evaluate personnel on Montana State when making this decision?
Gregorak: “I really haven’t. I watched the Bobcats a few times during the season because of sharing common opponents. I really didn’t evaluate all what they have and don’t have. One of the things I want to do when I get there is to just sit and watch ball games, put a roster in front of me. A lot of the Montana kids I will know from the recruiting process here but a lot of the out of state kids, I won’t know.
“I’m excited to evaluate them and what holes we need to fill. I will lean on Kane a lot because he is Montana State football. He has the pulse of the team. What he’s going through is not an easy deal. He was my first call yesterday. I called him to say, ‘Hey man, I’m looking to come help this deal and I’m looking for a great partnership with you.”
SS: Last thing for you. What do you think the potential of Montana State is with Jeff taking over and with all the stuff MSU has in place so far?
Gregorak: “The way I know Jeff will run the program and coach these kids, the sky is the limit. I think we can do some really, really great things in Bozeman. That may sound like a pitch but it’s the truth and that’s coming from a guy who has had to be the rival for the last 12 years and coach against them. I learned early on about this rivalry and Bobby (Hauck) was a fantastic mentor in terms of exactly what this rivalry means in this state. It will be different for me now going to the other colors. It’s going to be great. I believe in Jeff Choate and I believe we are going to do great things in Bozeman. I know the way he is going to run this program, it’s going to be toughness and like he said, CAT: Character, accountability and toughness. I truly can’t wait.”
