KSEN received information that Jim O'Day and Robin Pflugrad had been released as of 8:00am this morning. Apparently, the University of Montana has fired athletic director, Jim O'Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad. While we do not currently have official confirmation - The Missoulian had this to say:

Assistant Athletic Director, Greg Sundberg sent this notice to staff members this morning:
"It is will great sadness that I inform you all that this morning our Athletic Director, Jim O'Day and Head Football Coach Robin Pflugrad were released of their duties as of 8:00 am this morning. It will be a very difficult time for all of us in the coming days and I would ask that you stay positive. As more information comes out, I will be sure to let you know. At this point and time, this is all I know"

Jim O'Day has deep ties to our area in that he was the longtime owner of the Western Breeze, a weekly paper in Cut Bank, for ten years. Jim has been a long time friend and supporter of KSEN and we certainly wish him well in a difficult time.

Jim served as Assistant Director of the Grizzly Athletic Association, before being named Athletic Director in 2005.
KSEN does not have information regarding the reason behind the firing.

The Missoulian also had this:

Some supporters of UM athletics received emails this morning from O’Day.

Robert W. Minto Jr., president and CEO of ALPS Corp., posted this message on his Facebook page and called it to the attention of the Missoulian:

“I just got this e-mail from Jim O'Day,” Minto wrote: ‘Thanks so much for all the hard work and support I've received from each of you the past 8 years as athletic director and 6 years prior to that with the GSA and UM Foundation. It has been quite a ride. While this comes as a shock to both Robin and myself, it is part of today's global picture of intercollegiate athletics across the country. I realized that when I took the job.’ Good bad or indifferent I will miss him. He is my friend and always will be.”

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/um-to-release-statement-on-o-day-pflugrad/article_b7877268-79c0-11e1-92b3-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1qX7NvQxR

 

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