https://skylinesportsmt.com/bob-stitt-out-as-montana-head-coach/
Bob Stitt out as head coach of Griz football
By
Colter Nuanez
November 20, 2017
BY KYLE SAMPLE & COLTER NUANEZ
Following the solidification of the first two-game losing streak to rival Montana State in 14 years, University of Montana athletic director Kent Haslam has decided to not renew head football coach Bob Stitt’s contract, multiple sources confirmed on Monday.
Less than 48 hours after the Griz football team suffered a 31-23 loss, MSU’s first win in Bozeman since 2005, Skyline Sports confirmed Stitt’s firing and Hauck’s hiring through multiple unattached sources on Monday afternoon.
A source with direct knowledge of UM athletics department hiring and firing confirmed that Haslam and the entire football staff had a meeting on Monday morning that stretched into the afternoon.
After the meeting, three separate sources confirmed that the entire coaching staff other than offensive line coach Chad Germer, running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Justin Green and safeties coach Shann Schillinger will not have their contracts renewed.
Stitt is in the third and final year of a contract that is set to expire on January 1 of 2018. UM’s assistant coaches are on one-year contracts.
Following the end of the football staff’s meeting with Haslam, a source confirmed a team meeting taking place at 2:30 p.m. Monday. Shortly after Skyline Sports reported the meeting on Twitter, Montana sports information sent out a press release announcing that Stitt’s weekly press conference normally scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Mondays had been rescheduled to Monday at 4 p.m.
The most recent loss to the Bobcats stamped UM’s first two-game losing streak to its rival since 2002 and 2003. The defeat ensured Montana would not make the playoffs for the second straight season, UM’s first two-year postseason drought since 1991 and 1992.
The non-renewal means Stitt’s tenure at Montana ends with a 21-14 record that includes a 14-10 record against Big Sky Conference competition. Stitt posted a 1-2 record against Montana State and a 1-2 record against Eastern Washington, UM’s two primary rivals in the league.
Former Montana head coach Bobby Hauck/ (Aaron Mayes / UNLV Photo Services)
Three unattached sources with direct knowledge of the opening confirmed that former Montana head coach Bobby Hauck and former Montana quarterback Brent Pease have already been in direct contact with Haslam about the position.
An independent source said that Kevin Kane, the defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois, will apply for the job.
In the days leading up to the 117th showdown against the Bobcats a source texted Skyline Sports that a powerful and well-connected booster had spoken directly with Haslam in the week leading up to the rivalry game. According to the source, Haslam said that Stitt was going to be re-signed to a three-year contract extension regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s football game. The source said the powerful booster “STRONGLY encouraged” Haslam to reconsider the three year renewal, instead “suggesting he base any renewal on the outcome” of the game against the Bobcats.
Another influential source told Skyline Sports that Montana had decided to extend its coach’s contract; Stitt would remain coach for three more years if he beat the Cats, and one year if he lost. According to sources familiar with the conversation, the booster told Haslam that he was risking further donations and putting his job in jeopardy by keeping Stitt in place for another three-year contract.
On Monday, after hearing the backlash from consecutive losses to the Bobcats — games in which Montana State totaled 690 yards rushing to end Montana’s seasons — Haslam decided otherwise.
This story will be updated.
Kyle Sample, Brooks Nuanez and Colter Nuanez contributed to the reporting of this story. All Rights Reserved.