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MISSOULA- The University of Montana and former UM head football coach Robin Pflugrad have reached a settlement that will close out his terminated contract without a fight in court.

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MISSOULA- The University of Montana and former UM head football coach Robin Pflugrad have reached a settlement that will close out his terminated contract without a fight in court.

Pflugrad was terminated in March as part of a shakeup that also saw the departure of long-time athletic director Jim O'Day. The changes came after months of controversy involving sexual assaults on campus, although UM President Royce Engstrom has never publicly tied their firings to those problems.

UM and Pflugrad issued a joint statement Monday morning that have resolved "all remaining issues" relating to Pflugrad's contract and termination.

Under terms of the agreement, Pflugrad will be paid his salary and some benefits through the end of December, as well as a "lump sum payment" of $44,000 for lost income from running summer football camps and money from radio and TV appearances.

In a statement, Engstrom paid thanks to Pflugrad for his service to UM.

"Coach Pflugrad was a dedicated coach who was successful on the field for the University of Montana. We thank him for his service to our program and we wish him well in his future endeavors in college football."

Pflugrad had served as Grizzlies head coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, earning Big Sky "Coach of the Year" honors as he took UM into the divisional playoffs last winter.

Pflugrad's attorney, Dennis Lind, released a statement to Montana's News Station in response to the deal, saying in part, "[Pflugrad's] termination has been extremely difficult for Robin and his family. Because of the unfortunate circumstances at the University, apparently President Engstrom felt he had to go in an alternative direction. I believe this agreement indicates that there was no specific impropriety or improper conduct by Robin and we are pleased Robin and the University could reach resolution."

The statement added that Pflugrad will "really miss his association with the Grizzly football team and coaches and his many Missoula friends."

UM had already agreed to pay O'Day another year of his salary because he was given less than five months notice when his contract was terminated. O'Day received an additional $124,000 in his payout.

Associate Commissioner of Higher Education Kevin McRae says this is not a special deal -- it's simply the policy given to more than 1,000 people employed under the Montana University System.

Click here to read the agreement (pdf).

MISSOULA - The University of Montana has to pay its former athletic director another year of salary under the Board of Regents' employment policy.

Since former UM athletic director Jim O'Day was employed with the university for more than three years, his contract required his employer to give him five months' notice of intent to not renew his contract. But University of Montana President Royce Engstrom gave him the news just three months before his contract was set to expire: he learned of the decision on March 29 and his contract was up on June 30, 2012.

That means O'Day will receive an additional $124,225 in his payout. Associate Commissioner of Higher Education Kevin McRae says this is not the result of a negotiation, it's simply the policy given to about 1,000 people employed under the Montana University System.

"It is not a change or a new deal or a special deal or anything else," McRae said. "It's just a statement of our commitment and understanding of extending to a contract professional what the intent of the contract and what the Board of Regent policy provides."

McRae said O'Day has the option to receive the salary on a month-to-month basis in one lump-sum check. He said there is no reason to believe the University of Montana would not pay.

Meanwhile former head football coach Robin Pflugrad, fired on the same day as O'Day, will be paid through Dec. 31, 2012 under his contract. His attorneys, though, plan to argue he agreed to another three-year contract after that.

University of Montana legal counsel David Aronofsky said he would not discuss ongoing personnel issues.

"We certainly understand the news interest in this, we're just not talkin' about it," Aronofsky said.

MISSOULA- University of Montana President Royce Engstrom says the school is moving forward to find permanent replacements for athletic director Jim O'Day and football coach Robin Pflugrad, who were fired last month.

A letter from Engstrom states that UM's athletics program is one of the most highly respected in the country and adds that "such a powerhouse athletic program must meet these criteria: excellence on the playing fields and courts; excellence in the classroom; excellence in character in the community."

Engstrom says he will appoint a search advisory committee within two weeks or the athletic director position and he hopes to have someone hired by the beginning of fall semester. The University also expects to name a permanent head football coach by the end of the 2012 football season.

The school is also moving ahead with its plans for an academic center, new locker rooms and a new weight room for student-athletes and it will also add women's softball as planned according to Engstrom.

BOZEMAN- How would you celebrate retirement? Montana's new interim head football coach thought he'd check out one of the world's best golf tournaments, but now that that's over,

Mick Delaney is coming out of retirement and headed back to the sidelines and we're not suggesting that Delany is anxious to get back to work, but his plane back from the Master's landed in Bozeman 15 minutes early on Monday.

"The Masters was the most outstanding sporting event I've ever been to. Yesterday was unreal. It was something I had kind of planned on for the last two or three years. When I retired I was going to go when I got that opportunity and with Spring break this week, it worked out just fine," he told us.

Now it's time to get back onto the football field.

"Goal-wise...what you want to do is [to] finish up the plans were before Spring break. And that is [the] offensive and defensive schemes, special teams. The things we do not have in at this time and make sure we cover all the bases that would have been covered had Coach Pflugrad stayed there.

He added that he plans to keep Pflugrad's system in place for the upcoming season.

"There's no sense changing. We were a pretty good football team at the end of last season. We're going to be fast tempo, up tempo, we're going to be aggressive on defense, and do the same things that we've been doing."

He added that it looks like the Griz won't be losing any players on light of Pflugrad's dismissal. "Right now, I've spoke to every single player I had by Saturday and without exception, they will all return."

Delaney had thought that he was retired from football for good, but now, he's like a young colt quivering in the starting gate, anxious to prove that he still has plenty of wins still left.

"Oh man, I can hardly [wait]. I'm going from here [Bozeman] right to Missoula. We have a staff meeting [Monday night] with the coaches and their families and a team meeting in the morning, and then back on the field [Tuesday] afternoon," he added.

That 3:15 practice in Washington-Grizzly Stadium will be his first in his new position and we'll be there on Tuesday to let you know how it goes.

MISSOULA- It was one week ago today that the University of Montana campus was rocked by the ouster of the school Athletic Director and head football coach.

UM has yet to say why Jim O'Day and Robin Pflugrad were fired but we did finally get a chance to talk to Interim Athletic Director Jean Gee. She said she fully expects Griz athletics to not miss a beat, despite the changes at the top.

"There is definitely a comfort level for the student athletes. The student athletes know who I am. They interact with me fairly regularly. And for the staff, this was a pretty dramatic change. So that comfort level is really good. And I was very pleased to be offered, and that the President recognized that we need to have that consistency and that familiar element in order to move forward," she said.

MISSOULA- The University of Montana campus will be quiet this week with most students away for spring break.

But, the pause in classes will allow UM's interim football coach and Athletic Director the chance to settle in to their new positions before classes resume next week.

UM President Royce Engstrom named Jean Gee as the school's interim Athletic Director and former Griz associate head coach Mick Delaney as interim head coach on Friday.

The moves came after the abrupt firing of former A.D. Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad on Thursday.

UM officials have not said exactly why the decision was made to fire O'Day and Pflugrad, nor have they said if they plan to pay them both for the remainder of their current contracts.

Pflugrad and O'Day have both retained lawyers as the situation continues to play itself out.

MISSOULA - Two hefty contracts University of Montana President Royce Engstrom decided he will not renew: Athletics Director Jim O'Day's $124,225 contract set to expire on June 30, 2012 and head football coach Robin Pflugrad's $155,000 contract, with multiple bonuses, set to expire Dec. 31, 2012.

With months remaining on the contracts, The University of Montana's legal counsel will not say whether the school will keep paying. Meanwhile Milt Datsopoulos of Datsopoulos MacDonald & Lind, the law firm representing Pflugrad, says his client did not receive a legal explanation of his dismissal.

"Based on my conversations with Pflugrad, they were not given any specific reasons for being told that they were no longer going to be the coaches," Datsopoulos said. "I don't know if they were terminated or just told that the university didn't intend to utilize them as coaches. We don't know if the university intends to keep payin' 'em or not keep payin' 'em."

In addition to his contract that ends this December, Pflugrad said he had agreed to another three-year-contract that Jim O'Day offered him earlier this year: a contract he says he used heavily in recruiting.

"I was working under all that premise when we talked to the recruits, when we were in their family homes with their mother and father - you know, they wanted to know who would be coaching at The University of Montana."

In fact, he says he hired three new coaches under the premises of that new contract: two from out-of-state who already moved to Montana.

"I reassured them that I had at least three years, I would like to stay here as long as I could," Pflugrad said.

Datsopoulos said, so far, the University provided no legal basis for the decision, but told his client that UM's legal counsel would be contacting him with more specifics soon. Pflugrad received no more information thus far.

"The University's decision-making process to date is very confusing and puzzling," Datsopoulos said. "And we don't know what they're thinking and what their basis is, but we're going to insist that they abide by the contracts that they told our client that he could rely on and which he has relied on to his detriment."

The University of Montana's legal counsel won't provide the public with specifics either, which he says is well within the university's legal rights.

O'Day retained Billings law firm Edwards, Frickle and Culver to advise him. That's the same law firm that represented ousted Montana State Football Coach Mike Kramer, who later settled for $240,000.

MISSOULA- University of Montana President Dr. Royce Engstrom has announced that former UM associate head coach Mick Delaney will serve as the Grizzlies' interim head football coach, while Jean Gee has been selected as the school's interim athletic director.

Delaney recently concluded his fourth season as an assistant coach at Montana, working with the running backs, and was the associate head coach. A veteran mentor, Delaney has been in coaching ranks 44 years, with 29 of them at the collegiate level. Originally from Butte, he came to Montana from Colorado State where he was an assistant coach from 1993-2007.

Prior to coaching the Rams, Delaney was the head football coach and athletic director at Western Montana in 1991-1992. He served as the athletic director at Montana Tech in Butte from 1983-1985. He began his coaching career at Butte Central High School (1964-1967) as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.

Delaney was an assistant football coach under head coach Jack Swarthout at UM from 1968-1969. He was the head wrestling coach at Montana at that time also. He then moved on to Great Falls High School (1969-1976) where he taught English and was the assistant wrestling and track and field coach. He coached at Montana State from 1979-1980.

Mick earned his B.A. in education at UM Western (Western Montana College) in 1964. He is an inaugural inductee into the Western Montana College Sports Hall of Fame.

Gee has been involved with Grizzly Athletics for the past 15-plus years. She has served as the associate athletic director and senior woman administrator for Grizzly Athletics for the past eight years.

Prior to that, Gee was assistant athletic director for Compliance & Academic Services at UM for almost six years. A native of Lewistown, Montana, Jean received a B.A. in psychology from UM in 1995 and a master's degree in public administration in 2006.

MISSOULA - Many are wondering if President Royce Engstrom's position is in jeopardy in the wake of Thursday's high profile terminations of Director of Athletics Jim O'Day and football coach Robin Pflugrad.

"There's not been any special evaluation that's been asked for or started by any board members. I've gotten some feedback, frankly I've gotten it running both ways and nothing really will change the course," Commissioner of Higher Education Clay Christian told us Friday.

The Board of Regents was not the driving force behind Engstrom's move, but the board support his decision.

"This is a President's obligation to manage the University and we have confidence in President Engstrom to do that and we have confidence that he has the University's best interest at heart and there is support from the board for the President," Christian said.

When asked if the alleged UM sexual assaults played a part in letting the AD and Head Coach go, Christian says the board feels the details aren't important.

"Moving Grizzly athletics forward is what is on people's mind and what's important at this point in time. I believe we can do that and move forward," says Christian.

He added that under normal course of business, the President's position goes under evaluation each summer.

The Griz football team released a letter Friday addressing parents, Griz Nation, The University of Montana, and the citizens of Missoula regarding allegations and actions of players and the firing of Head Coach Robin Pflugrad and Athletic Director Jim O'Day. The letter states:

We write this letter as the players of the 2012 University of Montana Football team. We also write this letter as students of a University we love, members of a community we cherish and as stewards of one of the most respected and honored football traditions of excellence in the nation.

The events over the past months regarding allegations and actions of players and most recently the firing of our head coach and the athletic director have all had a deep and profound impact on us. We understand and accept the fact that a few of our teammates' actions, whether intended and deserved or not, have contributed to this unfortunate situation.

Whether or not true, regardless of obvious motivations and despite the facts, or lack of them, we have learned that the rules in today's public arena are about perception and expediency. As student athletes of this university we are left without an answer as to why our two leaders, Coach Pflugrad and Jim O'Day, are gone. These events have left us disappointed, saddened, and stunned, but they have also provided us something else.

We have been reminded of the commitment we made years ago, and supported by our families, to pursue excellence in the sport we love that led us from across the country and Montana to come here. Our responsibility to honor those who support us, our duty to respect the players and coaches who built the proud Griz tradition, and our unwavering appreciation of Griz Nation is now stronger and more deeply felt. Most importantly, our commitment to each other is stronger than ever.

Speaking with one voice, we ask for your strength, support and solidarity. We hope this series of personal and collective tragedies will give way to strengthening and rebuilding. We also ask those who have been entrusted with authority and power to carefully consider the impact of their statements and actions on our team and our great tradition.

Our team stands together, closer and stronger than ever before. Just as we will hold ourselves to a higher standard, we will also hold others. We understand that honor, truth and hard work win in the end. We are Montana.

Respectfully,

The University of Montana Football Team

MISSOULA- Several members of the media phoned in to the Montana Board of Regents planned meeting on Friday morning to see if there would be any more answers following Thursday morning's firings of University of Montana Director of Athletics Jim O'Day and football coach Robin Pflugrad.

However, no further clarification was forthcoming. During the public comment session, in response to a media question about the situation, the moderator stated "Public comment does not allow for questions or answers. You will need to address your question specifically to the President or individual regent outside the meeting".

UM President Royce Engstrom and Vice President Jim Foley would not provide any comment on Thursday saying that it was a personnel matter. Engstrom released a brief statement on Thursday in regards to the firings.

"The University of Montana has determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad. 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."

We caught Engstrom between meetings outside his office and he said that he can't and won't discuss the reason for firing O'Day or Pflugrad because it's a personnel issue.

Late Thursday afternoon the UM Excellence Foundation forwarded another statement from Engstrom. In it, he says he made this decision in the long-term interests of the University and the athletic program.

But there's a lot of unanswered questions still lingering, including why these two were fired and if the university has to now pay O'Day and Pflugrad to buy out their contracts.

MISSOULA- Thursday's sudden announcement that University of Montana Director of Athletics Jim O'Day and Grizzly football coach Robin Pflugrad caught many people bt surprise.

But even with two of the most prominent faces in Grizzly athletics gone, the Grizzly Scholarship Association and Missoula Mayor John Engen aren't asking "why" it happened, they're looking ahead.

Missoula is a college town, one that virtually shuts down on Saturday's for University of Montana Grizzly football. So the announcement that the biggest leaders of that program are gone, really shakes up the story.

It was an announcement heard across Griz Nation and echoed far beyond the brick walls on The University of Montana campus.

President Royce Engstrom announced the University would dismiss its Director of Athletics Director and head football coach, moves that affected much more than their two lives.

The director of the Grizzly Scholarship Association says he was just as shocked, but added the GSA has to keep moving forward.

"I hope our supporters and friends of the program and alumni realize that this program is bigger than any individual, and we have to continue to strive for excellence," Director Greg Sundberg said.

Meanwhile in Missoula City Hall, Mayor John Engen got the news from UM Vice President Jim Foley around noon and says he supports Engstrom in his decision.

"I think he spent a lot of time thinking about this and I think that he made the best decision that he could make, based on what he knew, and his judgment about how to move forward, and I support him in whatever that decision is."

Engen says part of being a leader is making difficult decisions, especially when it comes to personnel.

Thursday's news surprised both Griz and Bobcat fans from across the state.

"I've known Jim O'Day a long time from when he was an assistant staffer over the years until he became athletic director. He is very loyal to the University of Montana and as nice as anyone I know," former Griz quarterback John Edwards said.

Montana State fired former head coach Mike Kramer in 2007 after authorities arrested five former Bobcat football players within a year's time. He eventually reached a $240,000 settlement in a lawsuit he filed against the school.

Meanwhile, some UM alumni are so upset with current administration that they set up a Facebook page calling for the firing of President Engstrom and Vice President Jim Foley.

MISSOULA- Fans, coaches and players all had a lot to say about the firing of Robin Pflugrad and Jim O'Day on Thursday.

When the news broke on the social media site Facebook, people reacted to the University's lack of response into why the two men were fired.

Jon Peterson says: "UM President Royce Engstrom needs to be standing in the unemployment line with them."

Dawn Peterson Smith added: "Way to be vague, President Engstrom. Wow..."

Tabatha Dunlap posted: "They don't have to tell us why it's not our business. Why someone is released from work is confidential though I suspect why"

And Fay Asher McCloskey says in regards to Engstrom's response, "Not much of a statement..."

Players and coaches in the athletic department also had some thoughts on the issue.

Graduating Griz receiver Jabin Sambrano was noticeably angry about the decision and said he couldn't believe it happened. He did not want to make an official comment.

Griz football strength and conditioning coach Rob Oviatt felt the Griz coaches did everything they could to keep players doing the right thing. He felt it was unfair that Pflugrad took the fall.

"The football team...which made the national semifinals last season...is now without its head coach. But the athletic department also loses a well-respected leader in O'Day."

And several Griz basketball players expressed their frustration.

"You know, it's terrible news. Jim O'Day is a great guy. He's been here since I've been here, and always been supportive of the basketball team and myself," said Griz basketball Senior Shaun Stockton.

"I was just like, are you kidding me? He's the best athletic director I think you could have. So it doesn't really make sense in my mind why he would be fired," said Lady Griz Freshman Kelle Cole.

News of the firings sent shock waves all throughout Montana, and that includes the Flathead Valley, where there's a strong Griz fan base.

We took to the streets to find out what Kalispell residents thought of the sudden departures of Jim O'Day and Robin Pflugrad. Those we spoke with were all shocked by the announcement, but feel the Grizzly football program is strong and will continue to stay strong.

"It is a shock. I'm a really big Griz supporter. I think what happened here is that Robin had to follow into the footsteps of an even greater coach...and Robin is a great coach," said Kalispell resident Carolyn Lopez.

"It is a shock. I'm a really big Griz supporter. I think what happened here is that Robin had to follow into the footsteps of an even greater coach...and Robin is a great coach," added Kalispell resident Dan Hodge.

"Just basically, I think that's it's unfair for the coach to be fired... that he should get another chance. But, at the same time, you have to look at the other football teams and their coaches being fired, and it's almost the same stuff and a lot of drama... and then the team, they need a lot more professional in their life," said Kalispell resident Denise Pearson.

Lopez says she's amazed at the decision UM made. "Not knowing all the details, it's surprising to an outsider. But you know, I spent four or five years down at Montana State, and I saw the same sort of scenario with Mike Kramer, and again I was very baffled at his discharge, at the same time. In a nutshell, maybe this will be a good thing. Maybe we can all see the Griz get back on track, how they were before."

Griz fans in Missoula and beyond are still seeking answers as to "Why this happened" as are we.

MISSOULA- So why did two of the most high profile athletic figures in Montana get fired on Thursday? The answer is, we still don't know.

University of Montana President Royce Engstrom is standing by the following four-sentence statement he released earlier Thursday:

"The University of Montana has determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad. 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."

We caught Engstrom between meetings outside his office and he said that he can't and won't discuss the reason for firing O'Day or Pflugrad because it's a personnel issue.

Late Thursday afternoon the UM Excellence Foundation forwarded another statement from Engstrom. In it, he says he made this decision in the long-term interests of the University and the athletic program.

But there's a lot of unanswered questions still lingering, including why these two were fired and if the university has to now pay O'Day and Pflugrad to buy out their contracts.

MISSOULA- University of Montana President Royce Engstrom took head football coach Robin Pflugrad and Athletic Director Jim O'Day into his office for a meeting Thursday morning at 7:45 and fired them both saying the school needed a 'change in leadership".

O' Day says the meeting was set up earlier this week and the dismissals took both of them completely by surprise.

"I know it was a hard decision for him (Engstrom) but I knew he'd been thinking about it for some time.

O' Day says that he doesn't know if it is at all tied to the sexual assault allegations. "You can jump to conclusions but the president wanted a change of leadership."

The athletic department has been criticized for its handing of allegations of sexual assault involving athletes. But Pflugrad said that during the meeting that topic never came up.

"Not one mention of sexual assault. Change of leadership, that was all that was mentioned," he told us during an interview.

Pflugrad spoke to us in his lawyer's office and said he's never been disciplined and had shaped his future based on at least another three years with UM. He also says he feels his staff was taking proactive steps in making sure his players stayed on track.

Pflugrad says that he hired an attorney to take a look at what happened Thursday. "I'm on a fact-finding mission. I owe it to my players, my family and ultimately myself."

Their terminations are effective immediately and neither knew Thursday was to be their last at UM doing the jobs they loved.

O'Day is keeping a positive outlook and looking at the future. "We'll end up back on our feet...I need to get away from Missoula for a while."

O'Day has served as Director of Athletics in Missoula since being appointed to the slot by then-UM President George Dennison in June of 2005.

Pflugrad finished his second season at Montana with an 11-3 record.

MISSOULA- University of Montana (UM) Griz Football Head Coach Robin Pflugrad and UM Director of Athletics Jim O'Day were dismissed from their positions Thursday morning.

In individual interviews with KPAX, both expressed shock and sudden surprise in their firing.

Pflugrad said during his 12-minute meeting with UM President Royce Engstrom Thursday morning, no mention was made of recent allegations of sexual assault by UM players.

During his six-minute long interview with us Pflugrad talked about how the dismissal was very sudden and how that affected him.

"I have always cherished the job at the University of Montana...I am stunned, I am shocked.

I haven't had a chance to meet with them (the players) yet...that's going to be the toughest part.

Mr. O'Day and I are still in shock, totally surprised...I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that my staff and our coaches were on the right page of doing everything correct."

Jim O'Day said that no other people had been fired and that it seems the firings were difficult for President Engstrom. O'Day also mentioned the shock that he felt after the dismissal but continued to say that he is keeping a positive outlook and looking at the future.

MISSOULA- The University of Montana has released a statement in reaction to Thursday's surprising news that Director of Athletics Jim O'Day and football coach Robin Pflugrad are being dismissed.

UM President Royce Engstrom said in a news release that the school has "determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad. The University will announce an interim athletics director and interim head coach by the end of the week."

School officials release no further information on Thursday morning's decision.

O'Day has served as Director of Athletics in Missoula since being appointed to the slot by then UM President George Dennison in June of 2005 while Pflugrad recently finished his second season at Montana.

O'Day said in an email sent to the Grizzly Scholarship Association that, "while this comes as a shock to both Robin and myself, it is part of today's global picture of intercollegiate athletics across the country. I realized that when I took the job.

Pflugrad told Montana's News Station's Jill Valley and Derek Buerkle he was shocked about the firing and that he'd not yet spoken to the team. Pflugrad wouldn't comment on why he was fired. Pflugrad tells us he will now consult with an attorney.

We will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.

MISSOULA- Thursday's announcement that UM Director of athletics Jim O'Day and football coach Robin Pflugrad have been dismissed lit a firestorm of comment on the Missoula campus.

The details surrounding the dismissals are still coming to light, but both O'Day and Pflugrad spoke with our Jill Valley and Derek Buerkle about what's transpiring.

In an email sent to the Grizzly Scholarship Association and forwarded to Montana's News Station, O'Day stated the following.

To everyone,

Thanks so much for all the hard work and support I've received from each of
you the past 8 years as athletic director and 6 years prior to that with the
GSA and UM Foundation. It has been quite a ride. While this comes as a
shock to both Robin and myself, it is part of today's global picture of
intercollegiate athletics across the country. I realized that when I took
the job.

I wish you all the best --- and look forward to seeing all of you at some
point down the road.

We spoke to Pflugrad as he was leaving the "Press Box" restaurant and he said off camera that he was shocked about the firing and that he'd not yet spoken to the team. Pflugrad wouldn't comment on why he was fired. Pflugrad tells us he will now consult with an attorney.

Jim O'Day told Montana's News Station in an interview that no other people had been fired. We will have much more on this story as information as it becomes available.

MISSOULA- A major shakeup is rocking the University of Montana campus with several sources telling us that UM Director of Athletics Jim O'Day and Griz football coach Robin Pflugrad have been dismissed from their duties.

The news broke Thursday morning and an announcement is reportedly being planned for early this afternoon.

The following an email that was sent out to the Grizzly Scholarship Association on Thursday that was forward to us.

To everyone,

Thanks so much for all the hard work and support I've received from each of
you the past 8 years as athletic director and 6 years prior to that with the
GSA and UM Foundation. It has been quite a ride. While this comes as a
shock to both Robin and myself, it is part of today's global picture of
intercollegiate athletics across the country. I realized that when I took
the job.

I wish you all the best --- and look forward to seeing all of you at some
point down the road.

Take care.

Jim O'Day

O'Day has served as Director of Athletics in Missoula since being appointed to the slot by then UM President George Dennison in June of 2005. Prior to being named athletic director, O'Day spent four years as the Director of Development for Intercollegiate Athletics at The University of Montana.

Pflugrad finished his second season at Montana with an 11-3 record after being tapped to replace Bobby Hauck who left for the head job at UNLV.

We'll have much more on this developing story as information becomes available.