Miami is now in the process of replacing Montgomery, who has been at Miami for seven years and head coach since 2005.

Montgomery resigns as head coach

By: Adam Hainsfurther

Posted: 12/2/08

After posting its second 2-10 record in three years, the RedHawks are now looking for a new football head coach.

Miami University Athletic Director Brad Bates announced Saturday that Shane Montgomery resigned from his position as head coach of Miami's football team.

"Shane Montgomery is an extraordinary person who has contributed to our department, university and community in exceptional ways," Bates said. "Ultimately, however, our responsibility to Miami University is to maximize our students' development, and we believe that winning championships facilitates student growth and development in substantial and meaningful ways. Our competitive success in the past few years has not reflected the lofty standards of excellence we expect."

Montgomery was hired to replace the late Terry Hoeppner after Hoeppner left to coach at Indiana University. After four years at the helm of the Red and White, Montgomery has posted a 17-31 record that includes a losing effort in last year's MAC championship game against Central Michigan University. Montgomery's exit marks only the third time since 1911 a Miami head coach has left the program with a losing record.

Without a current head coach, Bates assures Miami fans that recruiting will not come to a halt. While Montgomery has departed, Bates has made it clear that his now former assistants are still working on getting the best class possible.

"All of our assistants are still under contract," Bates said. "They'll continue to work and recruit. It's harder when you don't know who the head coach is. We have people verbally committed, but we're not going to take any more until head coach is hired."

While Montgomery left the school on a low-note, his seven years as a member of Miami's coaching staff did see highlights. As a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Montgomery was crucial to the development of current NFL superstar Ben Roethlisberger and former Indianapolis Colt Josh Betts. Montgomery led the Red and White to shares of the MAC East title twice in four years and was intricate in the rebirth of one of the nation's most historic programs when in 2003 the RedHawks suffered just one loss on their way to a GMAC Bowl win in Mobile, Ala.

However Montgomery is leaving a Miami program that has had one of its most disappointing seasons since Randy Walker's departure to Northwestern in 1999. After being considered one of, if not the best, defense in the MAC in 2008, the RedHawks stumbled out of the gates winning just one game in their first six as they struggled to beat Charleston Southern University, a member of Division I's Football Championship Division (formerly Division I AA).

"We didn't have a successful season, which was very disappointing," Montgomery told the Dayton Daily News Sunday. "I appreciate (athletic director) Brad Bates giving me a chance to lead this program for four years and I appreciate the support of President (David) Hodge. I wish this program the best of success for the future."

Miami's past two head coaches were hired from within the program. Both Hoeppner and Montgomery served as assistants under the head coach prior to them. It remains to be seen if Miami will continue this trend, but at this point Bates said he is looking elsewhere for Montgomery's replacement.

"Our next coach is probably going to come from the outside," Bates said. "In fairness to our coaches, we hadn't talked to anyone prior to when we talked to Shane and his staff. Do we have people we're interested in talking to? Yes, but we haven't spoken to anyone at this time."