Glacier denies recruitment in response to MHSA suspension

Glacier High School has responded to the two-game suspension of its head football coach Grady Bennett, saying while it will respect the Montana High School Association’s penalty, it does not agree with the outcome.

The suspension was imposed on Bennett by the MHSA last month after allegations of recruiting were levied against the coach. Following a formal protest from Bigfork High School, the MHSA executive board unanimously found Glacier High School in violation of the association’s rules against recruiting.   

In a release sent to the Daily Inter Lake and other media on Saturday by Glacier High Assistant Principal and Activities Director Abby Snipes, the school said that the high school student in question, who had been attending Bigfork High School, had registered at Glacier ahead of contact with Bennett. 

“Coach Bennett was contacted by a student who lives in the Kalispell School District and was registered to start classes at Glacier High School during spring semester 2026,” the release said. “At Glacier High School, we do not recruit student-athletes to attend GHS, and this case was no exception as the student initiated and requested the transfer based on their desire to participate in one of Glacier High School’s unique academic program offerings that was not available at their current school.” 

The MHSA ruling was handed down April 20 but wasn’t reported until Thursday by 406mtsports.com and others.  

“Regarding Coach Bennett and Section 17 of the MHSA bylaws, Glacier High School respects the governing body full, but still disagrees with the ruling and outcome of this hearing,” the release said. 

Article II, Section 17.1 of the MHSA bylaws states in part: “The MHSA handbook defines recruiting as any school, or any employee, representative, club or any entity associated with the school trying to induce a student (either directly or through the parents or guardians of the student) to remain at his/her current school or transfer to another school for reasons relating to athletic participation." 

Glacier High School’s release suggests that some of the language in Section 17 is ambiguous. 

“It is common and normal for parents and students to gather information about schools they are interested in attending before they enroll in any school, leading to contact made with school administrators and staff,” the release reads. “Once contact has been initiated by the student and/or parent and they indicate that they would like their student to transfer to Glacier High School, Glacier High School informs them of the enrollment process if they would like to pursue that route.  

“It is reasonable to expect a school to communicate with families prior to their first day of attendance about programs and it is this communication that is unclear in Section 17.  

Glacier High School looks forward to working with MHSA in the near future as they work to improve the language of Section 17 in order to educate all coaches and programs throughout the state.” 

Glacier’s football program won the 2025 State AA championship to cap a 12-0 season.