MISSOULA – The University of Montana will have co-offensive coordinators for the 2013 football season, announced second-year Griz head coach Mick Delaney today (Friday, Dec. 7).
Delaney said that he has elevated current Grizzly assistant football coaches Scott Gragg (graag) and Kefense kKeh-fence-ay) Hynson (hen-son) to the positions of co-offensive coordinators. Gragg will oversee Montana’s running game and continue to coach the offensive line, while Hynson will direct the passing game.
The two fill the position vacated by Timm Rosenbach, who left after a one-year stint as UM’s offensive coordinator/special teams coach, and recently signed a three-year contract to coach at Weber State.
“I’ve been involved in that (having co-offensive coordinators) three times before when I was at Colorado State, and all three of those coaches are in the NFL now,” Delaney said. “If it’s the right fit and the right personalities, then I think it’s a good situation.
“In all honesty, when you look around the country where there is a single coordinator either on offensive or defense, they have their areas of expertise anyway,” Delaney said. “Most offensive coordinators, as coach Rosenbach was, are quarterback guys and pass guys, and they know what they want run. But still it is, the offensive line coach and the running backs coach who combine to put the game plan in as far as the run game goes.
“It just made sense to me with Scott’s great background, his expertise, and the way that he teaches guys to get him directly involved with the coordinating of the game plans, along with he and coach Hynson, and our other offensive coaches will all have input on our game plan,” Delaney continued. “As far as structure and organization goes, coach Gragg will be on the field and coach Hynson will be in the press box and call the plays from our game plan, and they will communicate between series to go over adjustments.”
Gragg just completed his third season at his alma mater (1995). Last year he served as assistant head coach and was the offensive line coach. His first two seasons at UM, in 2010 and 2011, he was the team’s recruiting coordinator and coached the offensive line.
“Scott was a great player in the NFL and sometimes that does not translate to being a good coach, but I think he’s an outstanding college coach, as he was a great player,” Delaney said. “Kefense has a diverse background. We will evolve a little bit on offense, but we’re not going to change that much. My background has always been a little bit of under center, two-back type of stuff, and a power game. We will incorporate that into our zone read package. Overall I think it will be something that is very good for The University of Montana.”
One of the most outstanding football players in Grizzly history, Gragg earned All-America accolades at offensive tackle at UM and was a three-year starter (he started in 38 games in a row his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons). He was an All-Big Sky Conference first team selection all three times.
“Lurch” played 11 seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets. He started in 151 NFL games, including 112 in a row. He was named to the NFL’s All-Pro team in 2002. He was a second round NFL draft pick in 1995 by the Giants.
In February of 2009 Gragg and former Griz football All-American Steve Okoniewski (1970-71) were inducted into the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame.
Hynson just completed his first season as Montana’s special teams and tight ends coach. He came to UM from Yale, where he coached the wide receivers for three seasons (2009-11). Prior to coaching at Yale, Hynson worked at Western Washington for three seasons (2006-08) and was the offensive coordinator his final two seasons there.
He has experience working with collegiate quarterbacks, receivers, running backs and defensive backs, was an assistant at Minnesota State in 2005, and director of football operations at Boise State in 2004. Hynson has also had assistant coaching jobs at Quincy (2004) and Willamette (2003), and did an NFL minority coaching fellowship with Seattle (2008), Oakland (2009) and Kansas City (2010).
As a player Hynson was an honorable mention all-America defensive back at Willamette (Ore.) College (2003). He was a three-time Northwest Conference all-star, and Willamette’s Freshman of the Year.
– UM Sports Information
