Coach Pflugrad Named Big Sky Coach of the Year
11/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2011
The University of Montana's head football coach Robin Pflugrad has been chosen by his fellow league coaches as the 2011 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, the conference announced today.
"This is a team award, and I am very honored and humbled to accept on behalf of our players and our coaches," Pflugrad said. "It is pretty neat to be voted by the other coaches in our league who you battle against every Saturday. It is a true honor for our entire program."
Pflugrad was recently named one of 20 finalists for the 25th Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the national coach of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Pflugrad, who has guided Montana to a 9-2 record so far this season, is one of 20 FCS coaches who combined for 14 conference championships this season who are on the Robinson Award list. He is 16-6 overall and 12-4 in Big Sky games so far in his two-year tenure.
Following a 42-28 loss at Sacramento State on Sept. 24, Montana rallied to win seven straight games. Montana opened the season with a loss to Tennessee of the SEC.
The Grizzlies went 7-4 during Pflugrad's first season, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Montana avenged all four of those losses in 2011, beating Cal Poly, Eastern Washington, Weber State and rival Montana State. The Grizzlies finished the regular season with a 36-10 victory over then-No. 1 ranked Montana State in Bozeman.
"Those four teams were tremendous opponents, as I think everyone in our league is," Pflugrad said. "Defeating those teams and winning nine games in the regular season was all about our players' performance on the football field and our assistant coaches putting together a great game. It's really all about the assistant coaches and the players."
The Grizzlies finished the regular season tops in the Big Sky in rushing defense, scoring defense, and tied for the lead in total defense. UM is also first in turnover margin, interceptions, and sacks allowed.
Montana has won or shared 20 Big Sky Championships, including 16 of the last 19. Montana is ranked fifth in both major FCS polls.
Montana, a fourth seed in this year's playoffs, earned a first-round bye. The Griz will host the winner of the Central Arkansas at Tennessee Tech game (which is Saturday, Nov. 26), on Saturday, Dec. 3, in a 12:05 p.m. game.
Pflugrad began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater Portland State in 1980 as a graduate assistant. He returned to Portland State in 1982, and stayed there until moving to Montana in 1986 with legendary Grizzly coach Don Read. Pflugrad also had stints as an assistant coach at Arizona State, Northern Arizona, Washington State, and Oregon before returning to Montana in 2009 as Bobby Hauck's wide receivers coach.
Pflugrad is the sixth Montana coach to win Big Sky Coach of the Year, following Jack Swarthout (1969, 1970), Don Read (1989, 1993, 1995), Mick Dennehy (1996), Joe Glenn (2000, 2001, 2002) and Bobby Hauck (2006, 2007, 2009).
His 2011 coaching staff consists of assistant head coach/running backs coach Mick Delaney, defensive coordinator Mike Breske, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith, special teams coordinator Dick Arbuckle, wide receivers coach Shalon Baker, offensive line coach Bob Beers Sr., tight ends coach Scott Gragg, linebackers coach Ty Gregorak, defensive line coach Lawrence Suiaunoa, cornerbacks coach Aric Williams, and strength and conditioning coach Rob Oviatt.
