Soccer Citowicki leaving for Wazzu?

[grizzlyjournal]

Not beating a drum for any specific program here, but... I think this is a good place to examine coaching salaries at UM compared to: A -- other Big Sky schools, then B. Compared to western women's programs which UM might directly or indirectly compete vs. for incoming student athletes. That means Griz soccer, Griz Softball and Griz volleyball specifically. I can't speak to golf, tennis or track programs, but... Surely there are some on eGriz who know how coaching salaries at UM stack up. If Montana is offering $10k less than other Big Sky schools for the same head coaching positions... well, ya know...

 

[Griz til I die]

Not beating a drum for any specific program here, but... I think this is a good place to examine coaching salaries at UM compared to: A -- other Big Sky schools, then B. Compared to western women's programs which UM might directly or indirectly compete vs. for incoming student athletes. That means Griz soccer, Griz Softball and Griz volleyball specifically. I can't speak to golf, tennis or track programs, but... Surely there are some on eGriz who know how coaching salaries at UM stack up. If Montana is offering $10k less than other Big Sky schools for the same head coaching positions... well, ya know...

So are they a lot less than our Big Sky peers?

 

[grizzlyjournal]

I know Montana salaries are in the public record, but I cannot currently find a published salary listing of Montana coaches for 2025-26.

 

[UptheGriz]

2023/24 Salaries:

Sport	Head coach (as listed)	Base salary	Stipend	Base + stipend
Football	Robert Hauck	$221,813	$6,000	$227,813
Men’s Basketball	Travis DeCuire	$197,002	$6,000	$203,002
Women’s Basketball	Brian Holsinger	$148,512	$6,000	$154,512
Soccer	Christopher Citowicki	$69,420	$4,800	$74,220
Volleyball	Allison Lawrence	$68,065	$4,800	$72,865
Track	Douglas Fraley	$68,120	$4,800	$72,920
Golf	Kris Nord	$68,503	$4,800	$73,303
Softball	Melanie Meuchel	$65,901	$4,800	$70,701
Women’s Tennis	Steven Ascher	$55,738	$4,800	$60,538
Men’s Tennis	Jason Brown	$52,448	$4,800	$57,248

 

[SidelineCoach]

2023/24 Salaries:

Sport	Head coach (as listed)	Base salary	Stipend	Base + stipend
Football	Robert Hauck	$221,813	$6,000	$227,813
Men’s Basketball	Travis DeCuire	$197,002	$6,000	$203,002
Women’s Basketball	Brian Holsinger	$148,512	$6,000	$154,512
Soccer	Christopher Citowicki	$69,420	$4,800	$74,220
Volleyball	Allison Lawrence	$68,065	$4,800	$72,865
Track	Douglas Fraley	$68,120	$4,800	$72,920
Golf	Kris Nord	$68,503	$4,800	$73,303
Softball	Melanie Meuchel	$65,901	$4,800	$70,701
Women’s Tennis	Steven Ascher	$55,738	$4,800	$60,538
Men’s Tennis	Jason Brown	$52,448	$4,800	$57,248

So Chris’s take home pay would have been roughly $57,600.00/annually after taxes. Without accounting for insurance, TIAA contributions, etc.

 

[rjl106]

So Chris’s take home pay would have been roughly $57,600.00/annually after taxes. Without accounting for insurance, TIAA contributions, etc.

Can’t blame the guy for moving on. That’s his salary after all these years.

 

[SidelineCoach]

Can’t blame the guy for moving on. That’s his salary after all these years.

100% agree!

 

[soccergriz]

The official job posting lists a salary of 80-100k

 

[soccergriz]

Chris is giving these ladies the opportunity to play at a Power 5 school, if they were die hard Griz they would stay regardless of the coach. This conversation would be different had he taken a job at say Air Force because it’s a unique institution but E Washington is another liberal arts college like UM but with more degree programs and more money to invest in their sports.

If UM wants to compete with Power 5 schools they need to invest in their soccer facilities. The field has no lights, the locker room building code violations (facilities store their lawn equipment between the locker rooms and the building isn’t sealed so they both tend to smell of fumes) and have to pay coaches a wage (this is publicly available online to read) that makes them able to afford to live in Missoula.

Chris’s legacy is earning the school so many titles that there isn’t enough space in the hall of fame area for them to show off all their trophies.



Just a side note look at what is currently happening at Iowa State football; they currently only have like 16 kids on their roster for the fall and 44 kids in the portal.

Let's be honest the new "pac 12" is no longer a "power conference". Fine if players want to go with but he isn't providing them a P5 opportunity....its now P4 and that has been acknowledged in all NCAA circles.

 

[SidelineCoach]

Let's be honest the new "pac 12" is no longer a "power conference". Fine if players want to go with but he isn't providing them a P5 opportunity....its now P4 and that has been acknowledged in all NCAA circles.

Fine let’s say the new PAC 12 is a shell of the former self but it’s still a higher division than Big Sky. When was the last time a non FBS school won the NCAA D1 Women’s Soccer Championship? Portland 2005?

Washington St is a former old PAC member and didn’t drop in divisions so they’re still having the Power 5 experience but in a non power 5 conference. If UGA left the SEC and joined the new PAC 12 wouldn’t their players still get the same P5 experience at their institution even thought they’re not at a P4/5 conference?!

At the end of the day the girls that have left are gone and what matters now is the interviews scheduled for next week and hope the committee makes a good decision.

 

[soccergriz]

Five years ago, Santa Clara in 2020

 

[ScubaScuba]

With how Chris gutted the program there really needs to be more of a sense of urgency for this hire. I also wonder if we need to hire a head coach in order to insure a few transfers to fill out the roster quickly. It's either that or be ok with a program reset. I understand taking a couple of players but double digits and the majority of the signed recruiting class wasn't necessary and is now Chris legacy.

I’ve seen you post a few times dragging Coach Chris through the mud (even his character and community standing) about his tarnished “legacy” at UM . Let me ask you, What would your legacy be if you created a championship winning culture and had a team that wanted to pick up everything, change schools, deal with a new environment and those stresses, to follow you to your next position? Would you consider that a successful run? Give me a break with your legacy in the dumps complaining. Says more about you than anything else whoever you are. It’s a testament to the relationships, coaching and culture he created at Montana that follows him and Montana should’ve realized that and made him an offer to stay he couldn’t refuse. That’s the business. But they didn’t and WSU took advantage of that. Chris’ legacy, as mentioned below is trophies too abundant to display in the HOF and a player following I’ve never seen. Direct your anger to the AD for not realizing what a diamond in the rough their soccer coach was. Thanks for the great run Coach and best of luck at WSU!

 

[GrizGirl]

EVERBODY rents out their facilities. UM Rents the bubble to help pay it off and pay utilities. They rent the Adams Center for concerts, home shows and high school basketball games. They rent Wa-Griz for high school football and concerts. MSU does the same. MSU has recently rented their new indoor facility for a kid's soccer event. It's called INCOME.

There are lots of new upgrades coming to UM. The new Lady Griz locker room should be completed within a week or two (I hope to have a tour next week). The West aux gym is getting a make-over, The East Gym will get a basketball floor (much need with 2 BB teams and Volleyball use especially in the Fall, and will be great for summer camps---this gym was used for indoor football and track practice before the bubble was available) At South campus, additional seating is being added for soccer and new restroom facilities for softball. Rumor is also around that soccer will replace the grass with turf. Not sure about lights.

When you say “new Lady Griz locker room” do you mean the soccer locker rooms? Or basketball?

 

[GrizGirl]

I’ve seen you post a few times dragging Coach Chris through the mud (even his character and community standing) about his tarnished “legacy” at UM . Let me ask you, What would your legacy be if you created a championship winning culture and had a team that wanted to pick up everything, change schools, deal with a new environment and those stresses, to follow you to your next position? Would you consider that a successful run? Give me a break with your legacy in the dumps complaining. Says more about you than anything else whoever you are. It’s a testament to the relationships, coaching and culture he created at Montana that follows him and Montana should’ve realized that and made him an offer to stay he couldn’t refuse. That’s the business. But they didn’t and WSU took advantage of that. Chris’ legacy, as mentioned below is trophies too abundant to display in the HOF and a player following I’ve never seen. Direct your anger to the AD for not realizing what a diamond in the rough their soccer coach was. Thanks for the great run Coach and best of luck at WSU!

Well said.

 

[MissoulaCanucksFan]

When you say “new Lady Griz locker room” do you mean the soccer locker rooms? Or basketball?

Probably Lady Griz basketball. That project had been in progress for a while but it's almost to the finish line.

 

[Griz66]

I have yet to see which players are planning to transfer and who is staying. Maybe that comes out tomorrow when the portal opens?

 

[maroonandsilver]

Probably Lady Griz basketball. That project had been in progress for a while but it's almost to the finish line.

"Lady Griz" means basketball. All other Griz women's sports teams are just Grizzlies. Soccer is Montana Grizzly soccer. Softball is Grizzly Softball.

 

[rjl106]

I have yet to see which players are planning to transfer and who is staying. Maybe that comes out tomorrow when the portal opens?

Isn’t the soccer portal closed? Football and soccer different dates.

 

[GrizGirl]

I have yet to see which players are planning to transfer and who is staying. Maybe that comes out tomorrow when the portal

Isn’t the soccer portal closed? Football and soccer different dates.

yes soccer portal closed mid December. (Though with a head coaching change/new hire they’ll be another window the existing girls can enter if they want… but that would be unlikely as there won’t be time before schooling.)

 

[grizzlyjournal]

"Lady Griz" means basketball. All other Griz women's sports teams are just Grizzlies. Soccer is Montana Grizzly soccer. Softball is Grizzly Softball.

Important clarification on your part. I've long personally identified the team (in writing) as GrizWBB, but it's surprising how agitated some folks get (on all sides re: the "implications" of the word "Lady"). Personally, I'm OK with either nomer.