Dec. 28, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery was promoted to succeed Terry Hoeppner as football coach at Miami (Ohio).

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Athletic director Brad Bates made the announcement Tuesday night in the team's locker room just before it played Iowa State in the Independence Bowl. Hoeppner, who has been Miami's coach for six years, took the Indiana job earlier this month.

"I know I usually have the last word, but now Mr. Bates is going to have it," Hoeppner told his players.

Bates then introduced Montgomery as the new coach and the team cheered.

Montgomery, 37, has been Miami's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since March 2001. He helped develop Ben Roethlisberger, who led Miami to a 13-1 record last year and is having a sensational rookie season as the Pittsburgh Steelers starter.


Shane Montgomery will take the RedHawks' reins in 2005. (AP)
Miami officials said Montgomery will become the youngest head football coach in Division I-A.

Before joining the Miami staff, Montgomery was an assistant at Chattanooga for eight years. He played quarterback at North Carolina State and spent one season as a graduate assistant there.

Under Montgomery's tutelage, Roethlisberger threw for 4,486 yards and 37 touchdowns last season while completing 69 percent of his passes. This season's quarterback, Josh Betts, threw for 3,255 yards and 22 TDs entering Tuesday's game.

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