Cats introduce Jeff Choate

BOZEMAN (AP) — New Montana State football coach Jeff Choate said his philosophy focuses on character, accountability and toughness.

"The high standards of personal conduct and academic success that are established at this university are going to continue," Choate said Monday at his introductory news conference.

Choate comes to MSU after two seasons as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Washington. He also was an assistant to Chris Petersen at Boise State and has been an assistant at Florida, but said his one season with Eastern Illinois made him realize the FCS is what college football is supposed to be.

"The beautiful thing about coaching at the FCS level is there is some perspective," he said. "At Montana State we can really keep the student first. When they look back in 15 years, it's not going to be the things they did ... the thing they'll remember is who they become as a result of this experience."

He said he would continue to enhance MSU's reputation as a strong program in the classroom, in the community and on the field and he respects the rivalry with "the team over the hill."

"My objective here is to build a team to win," while also preparing the student-athletes for their life after college, Choate said.

Choate listed Butte natives Mick Dennehy and Mick Delaney — his coaches at Montana Western — as mentors. Dennehy and Delaney both served as assistants at Montana State and later head coaches at Montana.

"Mick Delaney taught me how to treat people," Choate said.

He said Dennehy taught him toughness and how to connect with players.

"I need to build these young men for their life," Choate said. "That's what Mick and Mick did for me."

Choate was named head coach Friday. He said he has been getting to know current players, asking what they like about Montana State and encouraging them to finish strong in the classroom this semester.

"We're going to be all about finishing things around here and that's going to be the expectation," Choate said.

Choate said he's been interested in coaching at Montana State for a while and respects the job coach Rob Ash did over the past nine seasons. Ash's contract wasn't renewed.

"I'd say this: It's not broken," Choate said. "It might need to go in for a tuneup. Sometimes it's just a little influx of energy, a little different approach."

As far as recruiting, Choate said MSU needs to win the battle for in-state players.

"We're ultimately going to win championships with kids who grew up wanting to be Bobcats," he said.

His recruiting area also will include the northwestern part of the country and he says he'll continue to recruit in Texas, as he has for the past dozen years.

"Everything we do starts with recruiting," he said. "We've got to be very diligent and do our homework on the young men that we bring in here. Their degree ... needs to be more important to them and their family than it is to me."

He said he will be on the sidelines when the Huskies play Southern Miss in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Dec. 26.

Choate said he is still evaluating Ash's assistants and hopes to have his coaching staff in place by early January.