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Former griz QB Craig Ochs named offensive assistant for Grizzlies
By the Associated Press

Former Griz quarterback Craig Ochs has been hired as an assistant coach for the University of Montana football team.
UM SPORTS INFORMATION Photo
MISSOULA - Former Montana quarterback Craig Ochs has been named an assistant coach for the Grizzlies, coach Bobby Hauck said Wednesday.

A native of Boulder, Colo., Ochs most recently played for the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe before suffering an injury last May. He was allocated to NFL Europe by the Buffalo Bills.

Ochs, 25, begins his duties on Friday as a graduate assistant offensive football coach at Montana.

''Craig is a tremendous addition to our coaching staff,'' Hauck said. ''He is a great young man with a lot of character. He's very bright and I think he has a great future as a football coach.

''He's one of those players, who you recognize that if he decides to get into coaching, he's got a great aptitude. I am excited that he is joining us,'' Hauck said.

Ochs said he and his wife are excited to return to Missoula and be a part of Grizzly football gain.

''Obviously it's going to be in a little different capacity this time for me as a coach, but I am very excited about starting my career in coaching, and of course doing it at my alma mater.''

Ochs was a two-year starter for the Grizzlies in 2003 and 2004, posting a 17-6 record as a starter after transferring to UM from the University of Colorado.

Ochs led the 2004 Montana team to the NCAA Division I-AA championship game, a 31-21 loss to James Madison. In the title game he completed 29 of 38 passes for 371 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His completions and passing yards in that contest were career-highs.

He was a team captain as a senior when he completed 309 of 450 passes for 3,807 yards and 33 touchdowns. His passing percentage of 68.7 percent was a UM single-season record, while is 3,807 passing yards was the second most in school history.

Ochs and his wife Jessica have a baby daughter, Lucy, born March 2.


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