Bobcats lose DC Shawn Howe to NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers

BOZEMAN — Montana State football has a little coaching upheaval of its own.

Shawn Howe, the defensive coordinator for the Bobcats last season, announced Wednesday he is leaving the program. Several media outlets, led by skylinesportsmt.com, reported that the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers hired him as a defensive assistant for rush ends and outside linebackers. 

“First and foremost, I want to begin by thanking Coach (Brent) Vigen and his family for the incredible opportunity and the unwavering support to coach at Montana State University,” Howe said in a statement posted to Twitter/X. “While this chapter comes to a close, the memories, relationships and lessons from Montana State will stay with me forever.” 

Howe joined MSU’s staff during Vigen’s first year as coach in 2021. He was defensive line coach, then defensive run coordinator in 2022, and was named co-defensive coordinator in 2023. Last season, after Bobby Daly left for UTEP, Howe was elevated to DC. 

In 2025 Bobcats picked up 27 turnovers, helping them be plus-16 in turnover margin, and finished in the top 20 in the FCS in severeal defensive categories on the way to winning their first national title since 1984. Montana State beat Illinois State 35-34 in the title game on Jan. 5. 

Since then five assistants have left the Bobcats.  

Sean Chambers, who was helping with the receivers, took a job in quality control for Iowa State; Kiante Goudeau, who was helping with the defensive backs, is now corners coach at Portland State. 

Last Friday Montana State announced the hirings of James Price as receivers coach and Jordan Lee as cornerbacks coach.  

Price, who comes back to MSU after two seasons coaching receivers at Nevada, replaces Sam Mix, who left to become tight ends coach at Jacksonville State. 

Lee, a former player at Nevada and Washington State, replaces Trenton Greene, who is now Northern Arizona’s defensive coordinator.