The University of Montana will begin a nationwide search for its next women’s college basketball coach at the conclusion of the 2024/25 regular season. Brian Holsinger officially resigned on Monday after an unexpected leave of absence.
Neither he nor the university offered a formal explanation for the sudden departure.
Holsinger, 47, was hired to replace Mike Petrino in 2021. Although he failed to reach the NCAA Tournament during his three-year (almost four) tenure, the Grizzlies won 23 games last season for the first time since 2014 and won a Big Sky Tournament game for the first time since 2016. It seemed as though the program was on the right track.
However, Montana began Holsinger’s fourth season at 10-13 prior to January 15. It was announced one day later that the head coach was on leave. Athletic director Kent Haslam named associate head coach Nate Harris as the interim and met with the women’s basketball team to inform them of the news.
Brian Holsinger, head women’s basketball coach, is taking personal time off. In the interim, associate head coach Nate Harris will direct the program. Regarding university personnel, UM has processes in place that must be followed. We are following a process, and when we are at the point in the process when more information can be shared, we will be as transparent as possible.”
— University of Montana
No further information was provided at the time. Brian Holsinger was out for undisclosed reasons on what was thought to be a temporary basis.
Now, 26, it is a permanent basis. Holsinger resigned. His resignation is effective immediately and his name is no longer listed on the Montana women’s basketball program website.
Brian Holsinger resigned today as head coach of the University of Montana women’s basketball program. Nate Harris will continue to lead the team as interim head coach through the remainder of this season, after which a search will be conducted for a permanent head coach.
— University of Montana
Once again, no further information was provided. So what happened? Nobody outside of the university and its athletic department knows for sure. Holsinger mysteriously vanished and then stepped down.
To make the whole thing even more strange, he had already listed his house in Missoula for sale amid the leave of absence. That makes it seem like this unusual sequence of events was premeditated.
Montana owes its fanbase an explanation for whatever happened with Brian Holsinger. The continued silence does not help the optics, even though it likely stems from an abundance of caution. Former Lady Griz head coach Shannon Schweyen was awarded money in a lawsuit against the university last year so the radio silence on this latest saga probably relates. Still, the people deserve answers!