Grizzlies Name One Of Own To Succeed Read As Coach

Mick Dennehy, the man behind the University of Montana’s high-powered offense, was selected Friday to succeed the Grizzlies’ winningest coach.

Don Read announced his retirement Monday after leading Montana to an NCAA Division I-AA championship in December, and racking up a 47-16 record the last five years since Dennehy arrived as an assistant.

“We can’t get any better than we did last year. The key is maintaining it,” Dennehy, Montana’s 31st football coach, said in an interview. “You follow the plan that got you there. My biggest job is not screwing it up.”

Dennehy’s job the last five years was to befuddle opposing defenses. The Grizzlies averaged 512.5 yards a game last season, first in the nation. Dennehy was named Division I-AA offensive coordinator of the year by American Football Quarterly in February.

Dennehy, 45, came to UM from Western Montana College, where he was head coach from 1988-90. Prior to that, the 23-year coach headed football teams at high schools in Gillette, Wyo., Helena, and Colton, Wash., and was an assistant at Montana State from 1980-81.

A native of Butte, he graduated from UM in 1973. He played as a safety for the Grizzlies.