Landham promoted to associate head coach

What was lost to most observers as the Montana soccer team stormed its way through its modified Big Sky Conference spring schedule on its way to the NCAA tournament in April is that the Grizzlies did so shorthanded.

Not among the players but on the coaching staff.

One of the program's two assistants left in January, not long before practices started. Tightened budgets demanded that the position not be filled until summertime, leaving two -- head coach Chris Citowicki and assistant J. Landham -- to fill the duties of three for the spring season ahead.

A volunteer assistant was added two months later to help fill some of the gaps, but the heaviest lifting -- travel, program logistics, practice planning, recruiting, camp preparation -- was done by Citowicki and Landham, with the latter in particular taking on an elevated role.

"The amount of responsibility J. had to take on and how he took it on, he just did a phenomenal job, day after day after day," said Citowicki, who, with the administration's enthusiastic blessing, promoted Landham to associate head coach recently.

"He just keeps growing and getting better. He's really maturing and finding that coaching voice and connecting with everybody. I'm just extremely proud of him."

Landham, who worked previously at Northern Colorado and Vanderbilt, was hired in July 2019 to, specifically, coach the team's goalkeepers and, more broadly, help put Citowicki's vision for the Montana soccer program into practice.

The Grizzlies won a regular-season title in 2019, regular-season and tournament championships in the spring.

"When we brought him in, I knew there were areas I would need to develop him in. My vision was that it would take four years. He's done it in two," said Citowicki.

"He's just growing as a coach. It's been surprising, in the best possible way, how much he's matured in this position."

Landham's primary on-field role is working with Montana's goalkeepers. In two seasons with Landham on staff, the Grizzlies have played 30 matches and allowed 23 goals while posting 15 shutouts.

Montana went 6-0-3 in league in 2019, allowing just two goals in nine matches. The Grizzlies allowed one goal through their first seven matches in the spring as Claire Howard became the Big Sky career leader in shutouts.

Howard, the Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year as a senior and a United Soccer Coaches first-team All-West Region selection, would finish her career with 32 shutouts and a 0.83 goals-against average.

"I am very excited for J.," said Howard. "His passion for the game and developing players is clearly shown through the excitement and energy that he brings every day.

"Playing under him for a few years enhanced my skills as a player and a person, and I know this is just the beginning of all the players he will continue to impact. I am excited to see him continue to succeed in his new role."

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