University of Montana Fires Athletic Director and Head Football Coach

The University of Montana has fired its head football coach and its athletics director after a series of sexual assault allegations have been made against members of the university’s football team.

An internal investigation led by former Montana Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz concluded that “the university appears to have a gap in reporting sexual assaults.” University of Montana President Royce Engstrom recently released a report detailing nine reported sexual assaults on campus but no details were released of the individuals involved. Published reports have revealed that allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against several members of the football team.

The university did not say the firings were the result of the investigation into the sexual assault allegations, but the football’s team performance on the field was obviously not a factor. The University of Montana reached the national semifinals in the 2011 season and has been a perennial power in the Football Championship Series division.