Montana coach interviews for Rebels job

But this has not been a controversy-free season for the 45-year-old Hauck, whose squabble with the student newspaper, the Kaimin, made national news.

Hauck stopped speaking to the Kaimin after it reported an alleged assault by two Montana players. His players also stopped speaking to the paper.

SI.com and ESPN.com writers called Hauck a “bully.”

“Bobby’s story didn’t get out because he was focused on playing games every week,” Hauck’s agent, Michael Watkins, said. “It was blown out of proportion.”

Hauck still isn’t talking, but not by choice. UNLV has asked the two finalists not to speak to the media during the search process, probably to prevent them from campaigning publicly. The other finalist, Dennis Franchione, will interview today.

A decision could come tonight on who will replace coach Mike Sanford, who was fired last month. The Board of Regents has called a special meeting Wednesday to approve a contract.

Two sources who spoke to Hauck said the coach thought the day of interviews went well.

In addition to the issue regarding the student newspaper, questions have been raised about the type of players Hauck recruits. In September, the Kaimin published a list of nine players who allegedly committed crimes in the past two years such as armed robbery and assault.

One of them, Jimmy Wilson, shot and killed his aunt’s boyfriend 21/2 years ago, but in July a California jury acquitted him. His attorney said Wilson acted in self-defense.

Montana athletic director Jim O’Day, a former reporter and newspaper publisher, defended Hauck’s record, saying via e-mail “reporters did not do a very good job following the stories to conclusion.”

O’Day said the team has about a 2.90 grade-point average, and the Grizzlies never have been penalized by the NCAA for a low graduation-progress rate.

Hauck certainly has won in seven seasons at Montana, where he is 80-17 with three appearances in the FCS title game. The most recent was Friday’s 23-21 loss to Villanova, making him 0-3 in the big game.

“Bobby is one of the most organized and demanding coaches I know,” O’Day wrote.

O’Day added: “He would be a great loss to Grizzly Athletics if he were to move on, but it is probably inevitable at some point. He is very talented.”

Perhaps Hauck’s biggest concern is his association with UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, under whom Hauck coached at Colorado and Washington. Hauck was accused of two minor infractions more than a decade ago — contacting former Colorado players after he left for Washington and talking to a recruit during a noncontact period while with the Huskies.

There apparently have been no reported NCAA violations at Montana.

“Bobby goes by the book, and always has,” Watkins said. “He follows the letter of the law.”

Franchione, who now works for ESPN Radio but is known for resurrecting programs, had an issue at his last stop, Texas A&M, regarding a newsletter he charged boosters $1,200 to read in 2007.

Texas A&M self-reported possible NCAA violations.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.