By DAVE GUFFEY for Go Griz.com
The University of Montana has extended head football coach Mick Delaney’s contract to go through the 2014 football season, announced UM’s Director of Athletics, Kent Haslam today (Wednesday, Nov. 27). Delaney’s contract goes to Jan. 31, 2015, pending approval by the Montana Board of Regents.
“It’s such a humbling experience, and the day before Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for,” said Delaney, who notified the team about the year-long extension following today’s morning practice in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. “Where I am at in my career, and to be able to stay at the University of Montana one more year, is just almost unbelievable.
“I am excited for our coaches,” Delaney said. “I think we’ve got some really good things going here between the players and the coaching staff – they all work so hard and they’re all so together. We’re going to continue to what we did this year. I know we’re going to be competitive every time we step on the field. I just couldn’t be happier.
Delaney, who is in the second year of a two-year contract, has guided the Grizzlies to a 10-2 record so far in 2013. His two-year record at Montana is 15-8.
“I appreciate the hard work of Coach Delaney and the entire football staff,” said Haslam. “It has been a great season both on and off the field. The student-athletes and coaches have brought playoff football back to Missoula and continue to focus on not only their development as football players, but also as students, role models, and members of the community.”
Delaney is currently in his 29th season of coaching at the college level, and has been in the coaching profession for more than 40 years.
Montana, which finished third in the Big Sky Conference with a 6-2 record, is coming off a 28-14 win over rival and 13th-ranked Montana State last Saturday in Bozeman. The Grizzlies have won their last four games in a row and seven of their last eight.
Montana recently earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Division 1 Football Championship and received a No. 8 seed, giving it a bye in the first round, which is Saturday, Nov. 30.
The Grizzlies will play the winner of the Bethune-Cookman at Coastal Carolina game in a second round FCS playoff contest at home next Saturday, Dec. 7, with kick-off in UM’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium slated for noon.
“I think this just reinforces on how hard we have all hung in there together, and how hard we’ll continue to hang together,” Delaney said. “We’re excited for the playoffs, and I know that we will go into next week with a great amount of focus and intensity. We will play hard, and let the chips fall where they may.”
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