Photograph featuring Don Read, the coach who guided the Montana football team to its inaugural national championship in 1995, initiating a legacy of success. This marked the beginning of seven more appearances in the championship game, ultimately leading to another national title in 2001. (Image credit: TOM BAUER, Missoulian)
Don Read, the driving force behind Montana’s rise as a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) powerhouse, guiding the team to its first national championship in 1995, dies at the age of 90 on Wednesday, just days before the Grizzlies poised for a third national title.
Read’s son, Bruce, confirmed his father’s passing to the Oregonian without disclosing a cause.
“He was a great person who touched many hearts and lives in a positive way,” said Bruce Read, an assistant coach at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. “I can’t tell you how many people have reached out.”
Pass-First Legacy: Don Read’s Thrilling Coaching Era
Known for his teams’ thrilling, pass-first offense, Read’s coaching era at Montana drew enthusiastic crowds to Washington-Grizzly Stadium, inaugurated in 1986 during Read’s first season. Under Read’s guidance, Montana never experienced a losing season, secured victories in all 10 matches against arch-rival Montana State, and amassed an impressive 85-36 record.
“He was a great guy and great coach and he really got things going here.” Robin Selvig, Montana’s women’s basketball coach for 38 seasons, told 406 MT SPORTS. “He was really nice and obviously he had some exciting football to watch, the way they played.”
Unforgettable 1995 Triumph: First National Championship
In 1995, Read earned the title of Division I-AA national coach of the year. The Grizzlies, led by star quarterback Dave Dickenson, secured victory with a last-minute field goal against favored Marshall, sealing a 22-20 triumph in the FCS title game.
This victory marked the beginning of an extraordinary streak of 25 consecutive winning seasons for Montana football.
“He was authentic and cared more than the average person.” Dickenson, now the coach of the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, told 406 MT SPORTS. “He was very positive. To him, we were an extension of his family. The point of Don Read is that it wasn’t about the stars. It wasn’t about anything more than the team.”
Beyond Coaching: Author, Hall of Famer, Athletic Director
Beyond coaching, Read authored a book on quarterback development titled “Complete Quarterbacking,” published in 2002. He was inducted into the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and served as the university’s athletic director from May 2004 through July 2005.
Read was born on Dec. 15, 1933, in Los Angeles and played college football at Sacramento State.
Montana’s Current Path to FCS Championship
Montana (13-1) is scheduled to face defending champion South Dakota State (14-0) on Sunday in Frisco, Texas, for the FCS championship.
This report used information from ESPN.
