It’s a new look for the Flathead Braves as Mac Roche takes to the sidelines for his first season as head coach.

The former Whitefish Bulldog and Carroll College Saint took over after coaching the past 18 months in South Carolina. 

Before Roche and Flathead take the field for their home opener Friday, practice has been about establishing a new culture and playbook, which Roche said has been much easier than expected. 

“I thought it would be a little more difficult to change the culture to what I want it, but credit to these kids,” Roche said. “From the second I stepped on campus, they have bought into everything that me and my staff have been preaching and they live it, not just on the field, but off the field and we have a great group of young men.” 

Roche noted how Eli Coopman has stepped up as the general at quarterback this offseason. Coopman moved from receiver to starting quarterback partway through Flathead’s 0-9 season, throwing for 748 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 171 yards. 

“He’s learned a brand-new offense again, maybe for the third time, and he is out there directing traffic and if I screw up a call he corrects it for me,” Roche said. “He is going to be the guy that is leading the charge.” 

Next to Coopman in the backfield is Nolan Campbell, a hard-nosed running back who averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season. Dillon Wink will also see reps in the backfield. 

Out wide, Oliver Rosenberg and Boston Case will start as receivers. Case comes over from the Braves’ basketball team and Roche said he has picked up the game quickly. 

Tim Zundel will also see time out wide as a slot receiver; Roche noted Zundel as a utility guy that will move all around the offense. He made 12 catches a year ago and had 45 carries as a running back. 

Missing is Will Hollensteiner, the senior suffered an ankle injury this summer and Roche said he is “out for the foreseeable future.”  

Roche also shouted out the whole offensive line, saying they are a tight-knit unit, “not just the staring five but others who fill in off the bench,” Roche said. 

One new member of the line for 2025 is Eureka transfer Kyler Kossman, who fit in with the squad instantly. 

“Kyler joined us when I joined the team, within the first week you’d have thought he was a four-year player, his attitude is incredible,” Roche said. 

On defense Roche praised linebackers Wink and Campbell, calling them sideline-to-sideline talents who are going to make a lot of tackles. He also noted the defensive line is going to bring a lot of pressure. 

“Overall, I can’t single out too many guys. We have just had so many who have stepped up, but I’m really proud as a whole of what we are shaping up to be,” Roche said. 

Bison roam into Legends 

Great Falls takes the honor of Roche’s first opponent as Braves head coach on Friday; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. 

The Bison made a splash a season ago with a 6-4 record but lost 24 seniors to graduation. Included in the losses was two-year starting quarterback Riley Collette. Junior Tristan O’Leary fills that void. 

The Bison lost their top three rushers and two of their top three receivers from last season as well. Junior Steele Harris, who hauled in 34 catches for 601 yards in 2024, leads the wideouts. 

With new faces dotting both sidelines, Roche says he is just excited to get on the field. 

“This community has embraced me with open arms so far, and I just can’t wait to see Legends Stadium rocking, because these guys have put in the work and they deserve to see the crowd going crazy,” Roche said. “It’s going to be a great Friday night.”