THE MOST SUCCESSFUL head football coach in UM history returned to campus after an eight-year absence, this time to lead the athletic department. Don Read, who led the Montana Grizzlies to their first-ever I-AA national championship in 1995, was named athletic director. President George Dennison coaxed Read out of retirement to oversee all Grizzly sports. Read coached the Grizzlies during 1986-96, amassing a career record of 85-36 and a Big Sky Conference mark of 54-22.

GRIZZLY BEARS crept up all over town as the Grizzly Scholarship Association launched Grizzly Prowl, an effort to raise money for UM student-athletes. Artists — including two UM students — painted the life-size, Fiberglas bears that were auctioned off to local businesses.

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FOR THE THIRD year running, beloved Grizzly mascot Monte has been named to the 12-member Capital One All-America Mascot Team. Monte became the first Capital One National Mascot of the Year in January 2003. Also, Barry Anderson, the man who played the bear for three years, turned pro with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. Now he is that team's first full-time mascot, charged with making Benny the Bull act more like Monte the bear.

WOMEN'S HEAD BASKETBALL coach
Robin Selvig joined an elite club in March when he reached 600 career wins faster than all but five coaches in NCAA Division I history. The 26-year veteran of UM athletics finished the regular season with a record of 600-172. Only 12 active Division I women’s basketball coaches have reached 600 career wins, and only 57 coaches in NCAA history have made the mark.