Bobby Kennedy named Montana’s 38th head football coach
2/5/2026 12:35:00 PM | Football
Bobby Kennedy, a 30-plus year coaching veteran at the game's highest levels with a national championship pedigree, was officially named Montana's 38th head football coach on Thursday.
Kennedy was formally introduced to Grizzly fans and media by athletic director Kent Haslam at a press conference in the Canyon Club at Washington-Grizzly Stadium Thursday afternoon, surrounded by a majority of the team's roster. He takes over as Grizzly head coach after Bobby Hauck announced his retirement from the program after 14 seasons on Wednesday.
At the press conference, Kennedy outlined his vision for the future of the program, focusing on being a player's coach, first and foremost.
"We've got great young men on our team. Great accomplishments last year, but that is in the past. What we did, what we didn't do, that's in the past. I want to move forward with this team. We've got great guys. Guys that come to work every day. Great character guys. And trust me when I say this, they are invested in moving this program forward. I want you guys to know how much I appreciate you and your support," said Kennedy.
"My pledge to you, to every player in this room that's a player at the University of Montana, is that I'm going to know you personally. I'm going to invest in this team and I'm going to invest in you, and we're going to move this thing forward."
Kennedy also emphasized the importance of in-state recruiting, putting Montana players front and center in his vision for the future of Grizzly football.
"Trust me when I sat this: we are going to recruit Montana. I'm going to be in as many schools, if not every school, in the state. You're going to see me. I'm going to be visible, but we have a staff that does that too," added Kennedy.
"When I say we are going to make Montana a priority, it is a priority. It's a priority for us to recruit the good players in this state, to be in every school, and to have UM represented."
His third focus centered on something Hauck's Grizzlies did exceedingly well during his two tenures – representing the program in both the classroom and in the community. All the evidence you need was in Hauck's stretch of 15-straight semesters with the Griz earning a 3.0 or better GPA while at the same time developing a winning culture on the field. To that point, Kennedy minced no words in outlining his goals for the program.
"We are going to represent the University of Montana the right way. Coach Hauck has done a masterful job with these guys in what we do, and what we represent. That's going to continue. We are going to get our degree from the University of Montana. We are going to go to class and represent ourselves in the right way," said Kennedy, who has coached at some of the nation's premiere academic institutions like Standford and Texas.
"But let's not forget about football. Let's not forget about football. Our goal is to win the Big Sky championship, and ultimately the national championship. That's what we are setting dead aim for. Trust me when I say this, as long as I'm this position, that's going to be my goal, that's going to be my purpose, every day."
Gallery: (2-5-2026) FB: UM's 38th Head Coach Bobby Kennedy
Highly respected in the coaching community, Kennedy was named the Football Scoop FBS Wide Receiver Coach of the Year in 2008 and helped guide Texas to a national title in the 2005 season under legendary head coach Mack Brown. He also helped the Longhorns return to the BCS championship game in 2009. Texas's 2005 national championship game against USC in the Rose Bowl is widely considered one of the greatest college football games in history.
Kennedy has coached in 17 bowl games, two BCS championship games, two Rose Bowls, one Fiesta Bowl, and helped Montana reach the FCS Semifinal in 2025. He coached among the nation's elite for seven seasons in the Big XII, 11 combined seasons in the Pac-12, three seasons in the Big Ten, and six in the ACC at Wake Forest after beginning his career in the Mountain West at Wyoming.
He has produced dozens of All-American receivers and NFL draft picks including Michael Wortham (Montana), Reggie Williams (Washington), Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley, Limas Sweed and Marquise Goodwin (Texas), Simi Fehoko and Arcega-Whiteside (Stanford), and Ryan Yarborough and Marcus Harris (Wyoming).
A native of Boulder, Colorado, Kennedy joined the Grizzly staff in August of 2025 as the team's wide receivers coach, bringing over three decades of experience at some of the nation's premiere programs alongside several Hall of Fame coaches like Mack Brown and Kirk Ferentz.
In his first season in Missoula, he helped produce one of best passing attacks in program history and the best scoring offense in the Big Sky. He helped guide UM to a 13-2 record while the offense averaged 457 yards and 41 points per game.
He helped mentor Wortham, a consensus All-American and UM's first wide receiver to be named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. In his lone season with the Griz, Wortham led the Big Sky with 1,224 receiving yards, one of the top six individual seasons in program history.
He also coached freshman All-American Brooks Davis to a breakout season, catching 54 passes for five touchdowns and 698 yards – the most of any freshman in program history and the sixth-most of any freshman in the FCS that year. Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat passed to Kennedy's targets totaling 4,070 yards and 33 touchdowns – the second most single-season yards in program history and third most touchdowns.
Prior to arriving at Montana he spent the 2024 season at Rice, and lists stops at Stanford, Iowa, Colorado, Texas, Washington, Wake Forest and more on his lengthy resume. He began his coaching career at Wyoming in 1993 after serving as a graduate assistant in the Big Ten Conference at Illinois (1990-91) and Penn State (1992).
A native of the Rocky Mountain West, Kennedy earned a political science degree from Northern Colorado in 1989, where he played quarterback for four seasons (1985-88) under Grizzly legend Joe Glenn. He began coaching at Boulder High School (Colo.), his alma mater, where he lettered in football and track.
Kennedy was born in Denver and grew up in Boulder. He is married to the former LaShonda Lawrence.
The Kennedy File
Hometown: Boulder, Colo.
Alma mater: Northern Colorado (1989, Political Science)
Family: LaShonda Kennedy (neé Lawrence)
Kennedy Timeline
2026-Pres. Montana (HC)
2025 Montana (WR)
2024 Rice (WR)
2018-22 Stanford (WR)
2013-16 Iowa (WR)
2011-12 Colorado (WR)
2004-10 Texas (WR)
2002-03 Washington (WR)
2001 Arizona (RB)
1999-2000 Wake Forest (RB)
1995-98 Wake Forest (WR)
1993-94 Wyoming (WR)
1992 Penn State (GA)
1990-91 Illinois (GA)
Kennedy was formally introduced to Grizzly fans and media by athletic director Kent Haslam at a press conference in the Canyon Club at Washington-Grizzly Stadium Thursday afternoon, surrounded by a majority of the team's roster. He takes over as Grizzly head coach after Bobby Hauck announced his retirement from the program after 14 seasons on Wednesday.
At the press conference, Kennedy outlined his vision for the future of the program, focusing on being a player's coach, first and foremost.
"We've got great young men on our team. Great accomplishments last year, but that is in the past. What we did, what we didn't do, that's in the past. I want to move forward with this team. We've got great guys. Guys that come to work every day. Great character guys. And trust me when I say this, they are invested in moving this program forward. I want you guys to know how much I appreciate you and your support," said Kennedy.
"My pledge to you, to every player in this room that's a player at the University of Montana, is that I'm going to know you personally. I'm going to invest in this team and I'm going to invest in you, and we're going to move this thing forward."
Kennedy also emphasized the importance of in-state recruiting, putting Montana players front and center in his vision for the future of Grizzly football.
"Trust me when I sat this: we are going to recruit Montana. I'm going to be in as many schools, if not every school, in the state. You're going to see me. I'm going to be visible, but we have a staff that does that too," added Kennedy.
"When I say we are going to make Montana a priority, it is a priority. It's a priority for us to recruit the good players in this state, to be in every school, and to have UM represented."
His third focus centered on something Hauck's Grizzlies did exceedingly well during his two tenures – representing the program in both the classroom and in the community. All the evidence you need was in Hauck's stretch of 15-straight semesters with the Griz earning a 3.0 or better GPA while at the same time developing a winning culture on the field. To that point, Kennedy minced no words in outlining his goals for the program.
"We are going to represent the University of Montana the right way. Coach Hauck has done a masterful job with these guys in what we do, and what we represent. That's going to continue. We are going to get our degree from the University of Montana. We are going to go to class and represent ourselves in the right way," said Kennedy, who has coached at some of the nation's premiere academic institutions like Standford and Texas.
"But let's not forget about football. Let's not forget about football. Our goal is to win the Big Sky championship, and ultimately the national championship. That's what we are setting dead aim for. Trust me when I say this, as long as I'm this position, that's going to be my goal, that's going to be my purpose, every day."
Highly respected in the coaching community, Kennedy was named the Football Scoop FBS Wide Receiver Coach of the Year in 2008 and helped guide Texas to a national title in the 2005 season under legendary head coach Mack Brown. He also helped the Longhorns return to the BCS championship game in 2009. Texas's 2005 national championship game against USC in the Rose Bowl is widely considered one of the greatest college football games in history.
Kennedy has coached in 17 bowl games, two BCS championship games, two Rose Bowls, one Fiesta Bowl, and helped Montana reach the FCS Semifinal in 2025. He coached among the nation's elite for seven seasons in the Big XII, 11 combined seasons in the Pac-12, three seasons in the Big Ten, and six in the ACC at Wake Forest after beginning his career in the Mountain West at Wyoming.
He has produced dozens of All-American receivers and NFL draft picks including Michael Wortham (Montana), Reggie Williams (Washington), Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley, Limas Sweed and Marquise Goodwin (Texas), Simi Fehoko and Arcega-Whiteside (Stanford), and Ryan Yarborough and Marcus Harris (Wyoming).
A native of Boulder, Colorado, Kennedy joined the Grizzly staff in August of 2025 as the team's wide receivers coach, bringing over three decades of experience at some of the nation's premiere programs alongside several Hall of Fame coaches like Mack Brown and Kirk Ferentz.
In his first season in Missoula, he helped produce one of best passing attacks in program history and the best scoring offense in the Big Sky. He helped guide UM to a 13-2 record while the offense averaged 457 yards and 41 points per game.
He helped mentor Wortham, a consensus All-American and UM's first wide receiver to be named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. In his lone season with the Griz, Wortham led the Big Sky with 1,224 receiving yards, one of the top six individual seasons in program history.
He also coached freshman All-American Brooks Davis to a breakout season, catching 54 passes for five touchdowns and 698 yards – the most of any freshman in program history and the sixth-most of any freshman in the FCS that year. Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat passed to Kennedy's targets totaling 4,070 yards and 33 touchdowns – the second most single-season yards in program history and third most touchdowns.
Prior to arriving at Montana he spent the 2024 season at Rice, and lists stops at Stanford, Iowa, Colorado, Texas, Washington, Wake Forest and more on his lengthy resume. He began his coaching career at Wyoming in 1993 after serving as a graduate assistant in the Big Ten Conference at Illinois (1990-91) and Penn State (1992).
A native of the Rocky Mountain West, Kennedy earned a political science degree from Northern Colorado in 1989, where he played quarterback for four seasons (1985-88) under Grizzly legend Joe Glenn. He began coaching at Boulder High School (Colo.), his alma mater, where he lettered in football and track.
Kennedy was born in Denver and grew up in Boulder. He is married to the former LaShonda Lawrence.
The Kennedy File
Hometown: Boulder, Colo.
Alma mater: Northern Colorado (1989, Political Science)
Family: LaShonda Kennedy (neé Lawrence)
Kennedy Timeline
2026-Pres. Montana (HC)
2025 Montana (WR)
2024 Rice (WR)
2018-22 Stanford (WR)
2013-16 Iowa (WR)
2011-12 Colorado (WR)
2004-10 Texas (WR)
2002-03 Washington (WR)
2001 Arizona (RB)
1999-2000 Wake Forest (RB)
1995-98 Wake Forest (WR)
1993-94 Wyoming (WR)
1992 Penn State (GA)
1990-91 Illinois (GA)
Players Mentioned
Griz Football Spring Preview Press Conference
Wednesday, February 25
Griz Spring Football Preview
Wednesday, February 25
Griz Football Coach Bobby Kennedy Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, February 05
Bobby Kennedy Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, February 05
