Choate rides out of Bozeman having never lost to the Griz

The Montana State Bobcats need a new head football coach. In a shocking development last Friday night, Jeff Choate, who has resurrected MSU football, and who currently has a four-game winning streak going over hated rival, the University of Montana, is taking a job as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Texas.

The move came via Twitter Friday night, and Choate, and MSU AD Leon Costello confirmed the news over the weekend.

“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Jeff Choate for his tremendous work as Montana State University’s head football coach,” MSU athletic director Leon Costello said in a press release. “His success on the field speaks for itself, but his work in developing young men and creating championship culture also stands out. He has positively impacted so many people, inside the football program and throughout the MSU community, and I’m grateful for his contributions to Bobcat Athletics.”

Choate held a local media press conference via Zoom Saturday morning to discuss leaving Montana State, though he wouldn’t speak on the specifics of the Texas job. Choate was, just two weeks ago, a finalist for the vacant head coach position at Boise State, and internet rumors also possibly had him as a replacement to good friend Pete Kwiatkowski as Washington’s new defensive coordinator. Choate came to MSU from UdUb, where he served as defensive line coach.

Instead, Choate will be joining Kwiatkowski at Texas under new head coach Steve Sarkisian.

“When I remove the emotion from this decision it becomes pretty clear that for me to achieve some of the things that I still have set on my goals lists, I’ve got to take this next step," Choate said. "It was pretty much a slam dunk from the standpoint of what I needed to do professionally to advance my career and to take that chance to grab that brass ring down the road maybe.

“I’ve been really fortunate, I think, to have built a reputation in this business that I’m in a position to interview for a job like Boise and there were some other things that came up," he added. "This was not the only opportunity that fell in my lap the last couple of weeks.”

Indeed, Choate became a hot commodity for not only where he’s been, both at Boise State and Washington, but for what he’s turned the Bobcats into.

After starting slow, Choate had Montana State on the right track, including going 8-5 in 2-18, winning a playoff game for the first time in four years, then going 11-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky, and advancing all the way to the FCS semifinals in 2019. MSU was also poised to be a major factor in 2020 had it not been for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which canceled the fall season and, ultimately, led Montana State to pull out of an abbreviated 2021 spring slate.

“I think this program is poised for greatness," Choate said. "Great leadership in athletics and on the university side, a loaded roster, a great group of young men, I’m very hopeful that they will retain our staff and keep that intact because I think that continuity is a big part of the success here and it’s time for those guys to roll.”

As for retaining that staff, current defensive coordinator Kane Ioane is a top candidate to replace Choate, though, over the weekend, Ioane was linked to a position at Boise State, as well. Regardless of if Ioane is a candidate or not, Costello said, a national search will begin immediately, and an announcement can be expected in less than two weeks.

As for Choate, his time at MSU is now over, and certainly that will bring change to the Bobcat program, as any coaching move does. However, for now and going forward, Choate will be remembered for many great things at MSU, but he noted in his farewell presser what most Bobcat fans will always remember him for.

“It’s been a hell of a ride. This place has embraced our family and it’s been awesome,” he said. “No matter where I go, what I do, I will always be able to say I never lost to Montana.”