MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Bobby Hauck, coach of perennial FCS powerhouse Montana State and the Big Sky Conference’s all-time wins leader, announced his sudden retirement Wednesday, saying he no longer enjoys his job because of changes in college football in recent years.
Bobby Kennedy, who is completing his first season as receivers coach, will replace Hauck. Kennedy and Hauke were assistants together at Washington in 2002, and Kennedy also held staff positions at Texas and three other power conference schools.
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Hauck, 61, played two seasons with the Grizzlies for a total of 14 years, leading the team to eight Big Sky championships, 13 playoff appearances and four national championships. The 2025 team reached the national semifinals with a record of 13 wins and 2 losses.
The Missoula native and University of Montana graduate compiled a 166-92 record in 19 seasons as head coach at Montana State and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is the Grizzlies’ winningest active FCS coach with a record of 151-43.
“I want to enjoy my career and my job, but a lot of head coaching jobs in Division I college football today are not enjoyable,” Hauck said in a news release. “I just think now is the right time.”
Hauck said he doesn’t know what to do next. But he said he no longer wants to be a head coach.
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Hauck returned to Montana in 2018 when new NCAA rules took effect in 2021, allowing players to transfer without sitting out a season at their new school and receive compensation for their name, image and likeness. Revenue sharing with athletes began last year.
“Dealing with agents, the transient nature of the situation and the lack of forward thinking among young people, has not been the strong suit of young people for centuries… but now I’m a little tired of it when adults push them and pull them in different directions.”
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