Bobby Hauck

Bobby Hauck
Name	Bobby Hauck
Birth date	22 May 1964
Birth place	Berkeley, California, United States
Alma mater	University of Montana
Occupation	American college football coach
Years active	1988–present

Bobby Hauck is an American college football coach known for multiple tenures as head coach at the University of Montana and for leading the University of Nevada, Las Vegas football program in the Mountain West Conference. He built a reputation for turning around programs, winning conference championships, and producing playoff appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's FCS and FBS levels. Hauck's career spans assistant and head coaching roles with impacts at programs including California, Fresno State, Minnesota, and Washington State.

Early life and playing career

Hauck was born in Berkeley, California and raised in Great Falls, Montana, where he played high school football at Great Falls High School. He attended the University of Montana, playing under head coaches such as Larry Donovan and participating in Big Sky Conference competition. Hauck graduated with a degree from the University of Montana and remained connected to Montana athletics as an aspiring coach, influenced by figures like Don Read and contemporaries in the Big Sky Conference community.

Coaching career

Hauck began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at California under head coach Bruce Snyder, later holding assistant posts at Montana State and returning to Montana as part of the staff. He worked on staffs at Washington State under Mike Price, Minnesota under Glen Mason, and at Fresno State under Pat Hill. Hauck also served as defensive coordinator and special teams coach in various positions, collaborating with figures from the Pac-12 Conference and Western Athletic Conference coaching networks.

Head coaching tenures

Hauck's first head coaching role was at the University of Montana beginning in 2003, where he succeeded Joe Glenn and led the Grizzlies to multiple Big Sky Conference championships and appearances in the FCS Playoffs. Under Hauck, Montana reached the FCS national championship game and sustained a period of dominance in the Big Sky Conference, competing against programs like Montana State and Eastern Washington.

In 2009 Hauck left Montana to become head coach at UNLV, where he replaced Mike Sanford and led the Rebels in the Mountain West Conference. His tenure at UNLV included rebuilding efforts, nonconference matchups against programs such as Oregon and Arizona State, and participation in bowl games aspirations. After departing UNLV, Hauck returned to the University of Montana for a second stint, resuming rivalry contests against teams like Boise State when scheduled and reinforcing Montana's standing in the Big Sky Conference.

Coaching style and philosophy

Hauck is noted for emphasizing disciplined defense and special teams, drawing upon his experience as a defensive coordinator and special teams coach. His philosophy includes recruiting within regional pipelines encompassing Montana, the Pacific Northwest, and the Mountain West footprint, developing players to compete in the FCS Playoffs and aiming for national championships. Hauck's staffs have implemented schemes influenced by coordinators from the Pac-12 Conference and WAC traditions, stressing fundamentals, situational preparation, and turnover margin. He has been characterized by pragmatism in game management, adapting offensive game plans to available personnel while maintaining a focus on field position and red-zone efficiency against opponents such as Montana State, North Dakota State, and Cal Poly.

Honors and awards

During his career Hauck earned multiple Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year honors and conference championships with the Montana Grizzlies. His teams won conference titles and secured high seeds in the FCS Playoffs. Hauck's success at Montana placed him among notable college football coaches recognized in regional coaching circles, leading to consideration for national awards and invitations to coaching symposiums alongside peers from FBS and FCS programs.

Personal life

Hauck's personal life includes residence in Missoula, Montana during his Montana tenures and engagement with community organizations and alumni groups at the University of Montana. He has family ties in Great Falls, Montana and maintains relationships with former colleagues from stops at California, Washington State, Minnesota, and Fresno State. Hauck's public profile includes appearances at athletic department events, donor activities for Grizzlies athletics, and involvement in recruiting efforts across the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Montana Grizzlies football coaches Category:UNLV Rebels football coaches Category:University of Montana alumni