Bobby Hauck Ends Retirement After Just 5 Days, Takes Illinois Defensive Coordinator Job

The former Montana head coach announced his retirement on February 4th, only to be named the new defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois on February 9th.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a surprising move, Bobby Hauck, the former head football coach of the University of Montana Grizzlies, announced his retirement on February 4th, 2026. However, just five days later, Hauck was named the new defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, ending his brief retirement.

Why it matters

Hauck's quick turnaround from retirement to taking a new coaching job has left many Montana fans feeling misled and questioning the sincerity of his initial retirement announcement. The situation raises questions about transparency in college football coaching changes and the potential for coaches to leave programs abruptly, even after publicly stating their intention to retire.

The details

Hauck, who had been the head coach of the Montana Grizzlies since 2018, cited dealing with players and their agents as a key reason for his retirement announcement on February 4th. However, just five days later, he was named the new defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, a move that has surprised many and left some Montana fans feeling betrayed.

  • On February 4, 2026, Bobby Hauck announced his retirement as head coach of the University of Montana Grizzlies.
  • On February 9, 2026, Hauck was named the new defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois.

The players

Bobby Hauck

The former head coach of the University of Montana Grizzlies, who announced his retirement on February 4th, 2026, only to take a new defensive coordinator job at the University of Illinois just five days later.

Nick Saban

The head football coach of the University of Alabama, who has been cited as an example of a high-profile coach who has stepped away from the game due to the changing landscape of college football, including the impact of the Transfer Portal and NIL deals.

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What they’re saying

“I can't blame a guy for wanting to make a living, and I'm guessing he is going to get a pretty big raise. (I've heard rumors of more than double of what he made at Montana) but the question I have is, did he lie to Montana football fans? I mean, did he know he was going to take this job? Was he in talks? How tired could he have really been if only 5 days after saying goodbye, he was wearing another teams colors?”

— Derek Wolf, Author (955kmbr.com)

What’s next

The University of Montana is expected to begin the search for a new head football coach in the coming weeks, as they look to move forward from Hauck's abrupt departure.

The takeaway

Hauck's quick turnaround from retirement to a new coaching job has left many Montana fans feeling betrayed and questioning the sincerity of his initial retirement announcement. This situation highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in college football coaching changes, as well as the potential for coaches to leave programs abruptly, even after publicly stating their intention to retire.