UPDATED 3/30 @ 8:30 p.m. ET: Montana has found an interim head coach and athletic director to replace the terminated Robin Pflugrad and Jim O’Day, respectively.
Associate head coach Mick Delaney will serve as the Grizzlies’ interim head coach and associate AD Jean Gee as interim AD.
The move comes a day after Pflugrad and O’Day were fired amid multiple sexual assault investigations at the school, some of which involved football players.
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Though 1-AA powerhouse Montana is coming off an 11-3 season that saw the Grizzlies come close to another NCAA championship -- losing to Sam Houston State in the national semifinals -- the football program will begin the search for a new coach and athletic director after it was announced Robin Pflugrad and Jim O’Day were fired, respectively.
The Missoulian reports that Pflugrad and O’Day will not have their contracts renewed, per an announcement from the school.
“The University of Montana has determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O’Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad,” school president Royce Engstrom said in a statement. “The University will announce an interim athletics director and interim head coach by the end of the week. Further details about the search for permanent replacements will be released as the process develops.
“We thank Jim and Robin for their dedicated service to the University, and we wish them the best.”
Additionally, assistant athletic director Greg Sundberg released the following email to the Grizzly Scholarship Association board of directors:
“It is with great sadness that I inform you all that this morning our Athletic Director, Jim O’Day and Head Football Coach Robin Pflugrad were released of their duties as of 8:00 a.m. this morning. It will be a very difficult time for all of us in the coming days and I would ask that you stay positive.
“As more information comes out, I will be sure to let you know. At this point and time this is all that I know.”
The school didn’t specify the reason behind the firings, but the decision comes on the heels of several sexual assault cases, both on and off-campus, that have occurred over the past couple of years. Two of those cases are said to have involved members of the school’s football team.
The Associated Press identifies starting quarterback Jordan Johnson and running back Beau Donaldson as two players connected to sexual assault cases.
So take that as you will; normally, coaches and AD’s aren’t fired for the actions of players.