UM fires Pflugrad

Montana fired football coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O’Day on Thursday, adding more uncertainty to a program already dealing with sexual assault allegations against two players. “The University of Montana has determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O’Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad,” university President Royce Engstrom said in a statement. O’Day and Engstrom addressed staff and coaches in separate meetings, but neither gave a reason for the firings, said Greg Sundberg, the Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association executive director, who attended the meetings. O’Day told The Missoulian that he and Pflugrad (pictured right) were shocked by the news, but they understand that is part of the business. – AP