On Tuesday, the second day of Montana’s spring semester, one of the university’s newest mentors promised there would be no additional academic work expected of his students.
Matt Troxel, Montana’s new inside receivers coach and a published author, assured that he would not make his book, Coaching Wide Receiver Play, required reading for his position group during his introductory press conference at the Adams Center’s Hall of Champions.
Troxel was introduced to the Missoula media six days after he was officially announced as the Grizzlies’ new inside receivers coach and 12 days after he accepted a job that brought him back to his hometown and the program he played for from 2005-07.
Former Montana safety Yamen Sanders and safeties coach Shann Schillinger/ by Brooks Nuanez
“I had a lot of deep connections with guys on the stuff like Mike Ferriter, Shann Schillinger, (Andrew) Selle, those guys,” said Troxel, who accepted the position after five seasons at Idaho State, the last of which was spent as offensive coordinator. “The chance to come home and be a part of Grizzly football again, to me, took precedent over being the offensive coordinator at Idaho State. It was hard to leave. They’ve been great to me there and it was a great place, but the chance to come home is pretty special.”
Troxel’s addition to the staff was made possible after Montana chose not to renew the contract of Nolan Swett, who spent two seasons as the Grizzlies’ outside receivers coach and passing game coordinator. With Troxel slated to coach the spot he played for Montana, it was announced that Ferriter would take over the role vacated by Swett’s termination.
Troxel and Ferriter were close friends as the two played receiver at Montana and then coached at Idaho State. It was Ferriter who first notified Troxel of the opening on the coaching staff. Weeks later, Troxel interviewed with Montana head coach Bob Stitt and two days after that he was offered the position.
“It’s been crazy, it’s been hectic, it’s been fast,” said Troxel, who along with his wife, Katie, welcomed their second child in mid December. “ … It’s a lot going on. We’re super excited to be here.”
Troxel battled through three injury riddled seasons as an inside receiver for Montana teams that won three Big Sky Conference titles. Now he returns to a staff familiar with more successful times: Ferriter, Schillinger and Selle played alongside Troxel and running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Justin Green was a senior when Troxel was a freshman.
Former Montana wide receiver Matt Troxel
A product of a coaching family familiar with Missoula — his father, Van, a former Griz quarterback, coached Hellgate and his grandfather, Joe Roberts, coached at Sentinel — Troxel said he decided years ago that he wanted to be a coach. He spent the 2008 season as a student assistant to Bobby Hauck before two seasons at Idaho and then five in Pocatello.
During that time, Troxel coached offensive linemen, wide receivers, tight ends and special teams. As it allowed him a chance to grow as a coach — and an opportunity to turn a masters project into a book — Troxel said returning to Missoula was always something he considered.
“I think a lot of guys want to (coach) at their alma mater,” Troxel said. “It’s something that I wouldn’t say was necessarily a dream of mine or anything, but was always in the back of my mind. You never know where you’re going to go coaching and when you get the opportunity to come home it felt like it all fell into place.”
Troxel’s only season as Idaho State’s offensive coordinator didn’t produce the yards and points the Bengals hoped for, but he has been lauded by various coaches for his offensive acumen. Ferriter said in early November that he used to ask Troxel for directions when he didn’t fully understand a certain concept.
“He understands what it is to be part of this program having been a player, how important it is, and the tradition we need to uphold,” Stitt said in a news release announcing Troxel’s hiring. “He’s a very talented football coach, so it will be great to have his mind in our offensive room.”
Troxel said he has been able to hold one-on-one meetings with several players in his position group. Montana’s newest coach inherits a group led by sophomore Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana’s receptions leader in a disappointing 6-5 campaign that ended with a loss to rival Montana State. The group is expected to welcome several young members including the scout team’s offensive player of the year, Samuel Akem.
“I can’t wait to get to my first home game and run out of the tunnel as a Griz again. Those memories don’t go away,” Troxel said. “The two times I’ve come back it’s been super strange to run out of the opposing tunnel. I’m ready to get back home and come out of the other side where I’m supposed to be.”
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