Hysell's Era to End After Grizzly Game
11/14/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
retire at the end of the current season, he announced on Sunday. Hysell’s career at MontanaState will end after next Saturday’s home game against arch-rival Montana.
"My dad always taught me to leave things better than I found them," said MSU’ssecond-winningest football coach. "I honestly believe I’ve done that here."
Hysell leaves his alma mater with 41 victories and one game remaining in his eighth and final
season. He is second in school history in wins, seasons and games coached, and at his
retirement is the longest-serving coach in the Big Sky Conference.
In retiring, Hysell cited health problems that have plagued him throughout the season. ""This
season has not been much fun," said Hysell, who has battled severe back problems since late
summer. It is hoped that Hysell’s back problems are correctible, but two surgeries - one
scheduled for November 24, one for next spring - will be necessary. Hysell said it will take
several months to recover from the surgeries and regain normal health.
University administrators praised the Hysell era of Bobcat football. Montana State President
Dr. Michael Malone complemented Hysell for making the program competitive and bringing
high-character student-athletes to Montana State. "Cliff Hysell is to be commended for the
way he ran this school’s football program," Malone said. "His teams were disciplined and
competed hard, and he ran a clean program. It’s too bad more people don’t know Cliff
Hysell. He is a genuinely fine man."
Dr. Allen Yarnell, Vice President who has direct responsibility for athletics at MSU, said that
Hysell’s career will be measured by more than wins and losses. "I’m very proud of the way
our student-athletes have conducted themselves and represented the school during Cliff’s
tenure. He is a person of great integrity, and he has instilled that in his football program."
Montana State Athletic Director Chuck Lindemenn lauded Hysell’s efforts in turning the
Bobcat program from a perennial non-contender in the Big Sky to one which played for the
league championship 12 months ago next weekend. "Cliff Hysell is a man of integrity, honesty
and hard work. He raised this program to a high level competitiveness. Cliff Hysell has turned
this football program around, and everyone who cares about Bobcat football owes him a debt
of grattitude for the discipline and success and class he has instilled in this program."
Hysell enters next weekend’s Bobcat-Grizzly game with a 41-46 career mark, and despite
Montana State’s 3-7 mark this year the team is 22-21 over the last four seasons. Four of
Montana State’s seven winning seasons as a Division I-AA program have come under Hysell’s
direction.
The East Helena native was hired on December 7, 1992, and took charge of a program that
had not posted a winning season in the previous seven years. Hysell’s 1992 squad was 4-7,
and the next season the Bobcats responded with a 7-4 record. That ‘93 campaign still holds
some of Hysell’s favorite memories as a head coach. "The Idaho game in 1993, when they
were ranked no. one in the country, certainly has to be a high spot. The next week we became
the only Montana State team to win in Boise, and that’s a good memory."
After posting a 3-8 record in ‘94 and a 5-6 mark the following season, Hysell embarked on
three straight winning seasons, the first time the Bobcat program has accomplished that feat
since the late ‘70s. That run of success was capped last season when Montana State battled
Montana for the Big Sky Championship in the season’s last game in Missoula. The Bobcats
were beaten 28-21 by a late Grizzly touchdown.
Despite this season’s struggles, Hysell expressed pride in his players and coaches. "They’ve
held together and never quit trying," he said. "I thank (MSU President) Dr. Malone for hiring
me eight years ago, and Chuck LIndemenn for the help he’s been over the last couple of years.
I’ve had an excellent group of coaches, who have all been good people and good coaches,
and I especially want to thank Butch Damberger and Greg Salo for being with me for all eight
years. I’ve enjoyed working with (Bobcat play-by-play voice) Dean Alexander and the
sportswriters of this state, and our administrators, such as Bruce Parker and Dan Davies and
Patty Kicker, have all helped with various things. Dr. Yarnell has also helped me many times in
many ways."
"But the players are what I’ll miss the most," Hysell said. "I’ve truly enjoyed working with
them over the years. We’ve had tough, smart kids who have worked hard in football and in the
classroom, and who have been credits to this school. I’ve really felt for them this year, with the
injuries we’ve been through. But life doesn’t always go how you want it to go, and that’s a
lesson. I hate to leave under these circumstances."
Although he will coach his last game next weekend, Hysell remains enthused about the
program’s future. "People forget that we lose only 10 seniors this year," he said. "We have a
lot of players back next year, and there are a lot of really good young players in this program
right now."
Hysell first ventured to Bozeman in 1963 after transferring from the University of Utah. The
Helena High graduate redshirted his first season at MSU, then was a starter in 1964 and ‘65
under Bobcat legend Jim Sweeney. After a stint as a high school coach in Great Falls, Hysell
returned to MSU in 1972 as an assistant to Sonny Holland, with whom Hysell remains close.
"I’ve had four coaching jobs in my life, and Sonny Holland has gotten me three of those,"
Hysell said. "Sonny has been a great deal of help through this whole thing."
Hysell remained at MSU with Sonny Lubick upon Holland’s retirement following the ‘77
season, and left following the 1981 season to join Sweeney at Fresno State. A 10-year stay as
the Bulldog defensive coordinator gave Hysell a string of championships and league-leading
defensive performances for his resume, but he held one job in his mind and heart.
"Montana is my home and Montana State is my school, and this is where I want to be," hesaid. On December 7, 1992, he became the school’s 29th head football coach. "I didn’t reallythink of records and that sort of thing when I took this job, but looking back I think it’s (the 41wins) is an important accomplishment over eight years."
"My dad always taught me to leave things better than I found them," said MSU’ssecond-winningest football coach. "I honestly believe I’ve done that here."
Hysell leaves his alma mater with 41 victories and one game remaining in his eighth and final
season. He is second in school history in wins, seasons and games coached, and at his
retirement is the longest-serving coach in the Big Sky Conference.
In retiring, Hysell cited health problems that have plagued him throughout the season. ""This
season has not been much fun," said Hysell, who has battled severe back problems since late
summer. It is hoped that Hysell’s back problems are correctible, but two surgeries - one
scheduled for November 24, one for next spring - will be necessary. Hysell said it will take
several months to recover from the surgeries and regain normal health.
University administrators praised the Hysell era of Bobcat football. Montana State President
Dr. Michael Malone complemented Hysell for making the program competitive and bringing
high-character student-athletes to Montana State. "Cliff Hysell is to be commended for the
way he ran this school’s football program," Malone said. "His teams were disciplined and
competed hard, and he ran a clean program. It’s too bad more people don’t know Cliff
Hysell. He is a genuinely fine man."
Dr. Allen Yarnell, Vice President who has direct responsibility for athletics at MSU, said that
Hysell’s career will be measured by more than wins and losses. "I’m very proud of the way
our student-athletes have conducted themselves and represented the school during Cliff’s
tenure. He is a person of great integrity, and he has instilled that in his football program."
Montana State Athletic Director Chuck Lindemenn lauded Hysell’s efforts in turning the
Bobcat program from a perennial non-contender in the Big Sky to one which played for the
league championship 12 months ago next weekend. "Cliff Hysell is a man of integrity, honesty
and hard work. He raised this program to a high level competitiveness. Cliff Hysell has turned
this football program around, and everyone who cares about Bobcat football owes him a debt
of grattitude for the discipline and success and class he has instilled in this program."
Hysell enters next weekend’s Bobcat-Grizzly game with a 41-46 career mark, and despite
Montana State’s 3-7 mark this year the team is 22-21 over the last four seasons. Four of
Montana State’s seven winning seasons as a Division I-AA program have come under Hysell’s
direction.
The East Helena native was hired on December 7, 1992, and took charge of a program that
had not posted a winning season in the previous seven years. Hysell’s 1992 squad was 4-7,
and the next season the Bobcats responded with a 7-4 record. That ‘93 campaign still holds
some of Hysell’s favorite memories as a head coach. "The Idaho game in 1993, when they
were ranked no. one in the country, certainly has to be a high spot. The next week we became
the only Montana State team to win in Boise, and that’s a good memory."
After posting a 3-8 record in ‘94 and a 5-6 mark the following season, Hysell embarked on
three straight winning seasons, the first time the Bobcat program has accomplished that feat
since the late ‘70s. That run of success was capped last season when Montana State battled
Montana for the Big Sky Championship in the season’s last game in Missoula. The Bobcats
were beaten 28-21 by a late Grizzly touchdown.
Despite this season’s struggles, Hysell expressed pride in his players and coaches. "They’ve
held together and never quit trying," he said. "I thank (MSU President) Dr. Malone for hiring
me eight years ago, and Chuck LIndemenn for the help he’s been over the last couple of years.
I’ve had an excellent group of coaches, who have all been good people and good coaches,
and I especially want to thank Butch Damberger and Greg Salo for being with me for all eight
years. I’ve enjoyed working with (Bobcat play-by-play voice) Dean Alexander and the
sportswriters of this state, and our administrators, such as Bruce Parker and Dan Davies and
Patty Kicker, have all helped with various things. Dr. Yarnell has also helped me many times in
many ways."
"But the players are what I’ll miss the most," Hysell said. "I’ve truly enjoyed working with
them over the years. We’ve had tough, smart kids who have worked hard in football and in the
classroom, and who have been credits to this school. I’ve really felt for them this year, with the
injuries we’ve been through. But life doesn’t always go how you want it to go, and that’s a
lesson. I hate to leave under these circumstances."
Although he will coach his last game next weekend, Hysell remains enthused about the
program’s future. "People forget that we lose only 10 seniors this year," he said. "We have a
lot of players back next year, and there are a lot of really good young players in this program
right now."
Hysell first ventured to Bozeman in 1963 after transferring from the University of Utah. The
Helena High graduate redshirted his first season at MSU, then was a starter in 1964 and ‘65
under Bobcat legend Jim Sweeney. After a stint as a high school coach in Great Falls, Hysell
returned to MSU in 1972 as an assistant to Sonny Holland, with whom Hysell remains close.
"I’ve had four coaching jobs in my life, and Sonny Holland has gotten me three of those,"
Hysell said. "Sonny has been a great deal of help through this whole thing."
Hysell remained at MSU with Sonny Lubick upon Holland’s retirement following the ‘77
season, and left following the 1981 season to join Sweeney at Fresno State. A 10-year stay as
the Bulldog defensive coordinator gave Hysell a string of championships and league-leading
defensive performances for his resume, but he held one job in his mind and heart.
"Montana is my home and Montana State is my school, and this is where I want to be," hesaid. On December 7, 1992, he became the school’s 29th head football coach. "I didn’t reallythink of records and that sort of thing when I took this job, but looking back I think it’s (the 41wins) is an important accomplishment over eight years."
WBB - Montana State vs Portland - Behind the Mic
Friday, March 27
2025 Code of a Champion
Monday, March 23
Spring Football Preview Press Conference
Friday, March 13
WBB - #2 Montana State vs #1 Idaho - Behind the Mic
Thursday, March 12
