THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Vigen on WSU interest, staying in Bozeman, and coaching a former Viking

From afar, it’s been interesting — and a bit amusing — to see Jason Eck’s name already mentioned for the vacant head football coaching job at UCLA. 

Eck, who elevated the Idaho program in his three seasons here before leaving after last season, has coached all of three games at New Mexico. 

Of course, the third one was last Friday’s 35-10 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl, which led to the firing of Bruins coach Deshaun Foster over the weekend. 

FCS COACHES being pursued for FBS jobs is nothing new. 

It happened to Eck last year. 

Also in the Palouse last year, Montana State coach Brent Vigen’s name was associated with the Washington State job when Jake Dickert left for Wake Forest in December. 

“It was associated for sure, I won’t deny that,” Vigen said in July, at the Big Sky Football Kickoff media day in Airway Heights. “But us playing into January, and my focus being the team at Montana State didn’t end up aligning, and that’s OK. It wasn’t meant to be, and that opportunity that we had into January, playing in that championship game was my priority.” 

Montana State, played in the FCS Championship in January, falling to North Dakota State. Along the way, the Bobcats beat Idaho in the quarterfinals, and the next day, Eck was announced as the next coach at New Mexico.

Vigen had worked with Dickert at previous coaching stops at Wyoming and North Dakota State, and knew some of the other WSU assistant coaches, so he kept track of the Cougars from afar. 

The timing is seldom great when these coaching jobs come open. Some have moved on when there was still work to be done where they were, but “that’s just not who I am,” Vigen said. “I’m coaching football in a great place, and we’ve got a great opportunity this year, so that’s what’s on my mind.”

WSU eventually hired South Dakota State coach Jimmy Rogers, whose Jackrabbits lost to North Dakota State in the semifinals in late December.

You can’t blame Vigen for staying, either. He says he and his family enjoy Bozeman, and Montana State, and the Bobcats have been among the top teams in the Big Sky, as well as the country, for several years.  

And Montana State remains one of those teams this year, even without generational quarterback Tommy Mellott, who Vigen admitted was “one of one.” 

OUR LOCAL tie to Bozeman, former Coeur d’Alene High standout Tyson Pottenger, had one more year of eligibility remaining at Montana State. 

But Vigen said Pottenger, after going through spring ball, decided to prepare for a career as a physical therapist. 

“I really appreciated Ty for all he did for the program,” Vigen said. “but ultimately I think he felt like graduating and preparing for PT school was best for him.  

“There was going to be a role (for him on this year’s team),” Vigen added. “He was playing strong safety, and we had graduated our strong safety, so ... no, I think it was a life choice. He clearly was going to contribute to our team. It was not something we were looking to have happen, but ultimately, we want what’s best for him too, and I think he really appreciated his time at Montana State, but at the same time is ready for his next step.” 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports. 

    Brent Vigen