Montana Grizzlies Head Coach Bobby Hauck Speaks Out On Contract Extension

There was uncertainty surrounding Head Coach Bobby Hauck's contract extension midway through last season, especially after the Griz lost on the road to underdog Northern Arizona.

The uncertainty was quickly laid to rest as the Griz marched through the season on a magical run to the National Championship game in Frisco, Texas. Now, Coach Hauck is getting paid and will be in Missoula for the next three seasons.

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Coach Hauck appeared on the Grizzly Coaches Show (it can be heard every Tuesday evening on KGRZ, kgrzmissoula.com and the KGRZ mobile app) this week to recap the 2023 season and discuss his contract extension.

Coach Hauck Reflects on last season

It's tough for a coach to reflect on how special a season is while the season is happening. With so many moving parts, coaches possess tunnel vision to the task at hand: winning the next game. Now that the season is done and there's been some breathing room since the champ game, Hauck looked fondly back on the season.

"For me, from little kids to older folks just seeing the smiles and joy on people's faces as we started to stack win on win right on through the departure for the championship game, I mean, it was just kind of special," said Hauck.

"You gotta try to enjoy what you're doing. If you don't then do something else."

Who knows, other than Coach Hauck, how much the excitement of this season played into his contract talks. But what we do know is the kid from Big Timber, Montana loves it here in Missoula.

"I love football, I love coaching young men and developing them, but I also love doing it here. Yeah, it was fun. It was a fun year. I have fun every year though. I really do. We have a great environment."

"For me, from little kids to older folks just seeing the smiles and joy on people's faces as we started to stack win on win right on through the departure for the championship game, I mean, it was just kind of special," said Hauck.

 

$$$$ talks

Hauck is a Montanan through and through. The University of Montana product took a stab at head coaching outside of Missoula from 2010-2014 at UNLV. This time around, Hauck had no desire to be anywhere but his alma mater.

"I'm happy too and the woman in charge at my house [his wife Stacey Hauck] is happy which is probably the most important," Hauck on his decision to sign a 3-year extension.

"It's been a real privilege to be the head coach here, and I don't ever take that for granted...this is my place."

"Stace and I think this is where we're supposed to be. She brought that to my attention while this was going on, and we're very grateful to the University for wanting to have us back."

As much as Hauck adores this place, he realizes the money comes into play as well. Skyline Sports reported on February 2 that Hauck's new contract would be worth a minimum of 265 thousand dollars per year with potential bonuses each season. The biggest and most important bonus, winning the National Championship, is worth 75 thousand dollars.

On top of a National Championship appearance, Coach Hauck racked up the accolades this past season. He became the all-time winningest head coach in Big Sky Conference history with 129 wins and counting. Hauck captured his 4th Big Sky Coach of the Year Award and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award, too.