Women's Rodeo
Whitaker, Kyle
Kyle Whitaker
- Title:
- Head Rodeo Coach
- Email:
- kyle.whitaker@msubobcats.com
- Phone:
- 406-994-2403
Kyle Whitaker, one of professional rodeo's most decorated athletes with expertise in all event areas, enters his fourth season as Montana State's head rodeo coach in 2024-25.
While leading the Montana State program through its transition from club sport status back into Bobcat Athletics as a varsity sport, Whitaker's teams have maintained the program's level of excellence. MSU has won the Big Sky Region in each of his four campaigns. The Bobcat women finished fourth in 2024, that squad's fourth straight campaign with a top five finish at the CNFR. Under Whitaker, along with current assistant coach Savanna Bolich, the Bobcats finished fifth in 2022, second in 2023 and fourth in 2024 in the women's standings. Montana State's men have also enjoyed national success under Whitaker. The Cats finished 25th in 2022, ninth in 2023 and 11th in 2024.
Whitaker joinied the Bobcats on August 23, 2021. A former college rodeo star at Nebraska, Whitaker was a professional tie-down roper, steer wrestler and saddle bronc rider who won the pro rodeo circuit's Linderman Award for excellence in both riding and roping 10 times. He broke the previous record, four, held by his father Chip.
A native of Chambers, Nebraska, Whitaker competed collegiately at the University of Nebraska before one of the most acclaimed careers in professional rodeo history. He first won the Linderman Award in 1997 and won it most recently in 2018. He won the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo all-around titles in 2002 and 2008 as a tie-down roper, steer wrestler and saddle bronc rider. During his rodeo career, Whitaker conducted many rodeo clinics and worked with young competitors.
While leading the Montana State program through its transition from club sport status back into Bobcat Athletics as a varsity sport, Whitaker's teams have maintained the program's level of excellence. MSU has won the Big Sky Region in each of his four campaigns. The Bobcat women finished fourth in 2024, that squad's fourth straight campaign with a top five finish at the CNFR. Under Whitaker, along with current assistant coach Savanna Bolich, the Bobcats finished fifth in 2022, second in 2023 and fourth in 2024 in the women's standings. Montana State's men have also enjoyed national success under Whitaker. The Cats finished 25th in 2022, ninth in 2023 and 11th in 2024.
Whitaker joinied the Bobcats on August 23, 2021. A former college rodeo star at Nebraska, Whitaker was a professional tie-down roper, steer wrestler and saddle bronc rider who won the pro rodeo circuit's Linderman Award for excellence in both riding and roping 10 times. He broke the previous record, four, held by his father Chip.
A native of Chambers, Nebraska, Whitaker competed collegiately at the University of Nebraska before one of the most acclaimed careers in professional rodeo history. He first won the Linderman Award in 1997 and won it most recently in 2018. He won the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo all-around titles in 2002 and 2008 as a tie-down roper, steer wrestler and saddle bronc rider. During his rodeo career, Whitaker conducted many rodeo clinics and worked with young competitors.
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