UM-Western letting Ferris go; Tech's Green retiring

DILLON - Montana Western football coach Rich Ferris says he is losing his coaching job after three seasons.

Ferris told the Montana Standard he received a letter from the college Monday saying his employment as football coach was no longer needed. He said he has the option to resign and possibly keep some teaching duties, or be fired.

Western athletic director Mark Durham confirmed that Ferris had been given some options.

Western posted a 1-10 record this fall and Ferris' teams have gone 7-25 over the past three years.

Ferris played football at Western, earning NAIA All-America honors at safety. He was an assistant for seven years before taking over the head coaching job.

BUTTE - The ever-quotable Montana Tech football coach Bob Green has announced his retirement after 24 seasons at the Butte school.

KFBB-TV reports Green started his announcement Tuesday by asking what everyone was there for and expressed his doubts that there would be that many people at his funeral.

Tech posted a 5-6 mark this season, and tied for third place in the Frontier Conference standings at 5-5.

Green's teams posted a 140-116-1 record and played for the 1996 NAIA national championship, falling 33-31 to Southwestern Oklahoma. The Orediggers haven't made the playoffs since the 2005 season when Tech won a first-round game at Azusa Pacific before falling to eventual national champion Carroll College in the second round.