Fired Coach Asks For, Receives, Office On Campus

Missoulian, Fritz Neighbor

http://missoulian.com/news/local/still-on-um-payroll-fired-grizzlies-coach-pflugrad-gets-office/article_ed0b1ecc-a61a-11e1-92b4-001a4bcf887a.html

The continued use of an on-campus office by fired University of Montana football coach Robin Pflugrad may seem strange to the casual onlooker, but it isn’t unheard of.

Pflugrad, relieved of his duties as Grizzlies coach on March 30, asked for and received an office earlier this month. It is inside the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library.

“You’d have to ask (university legal counsel) David Aronofsky about the decision from UM’s standpoint,” said Dennis Lind, Pflugrad’s lawyer. “But there was a question to his capacity to have a computer to network with his coaching contacts, and have an opportunity to try to find another coaching position.

“I requested of the university as to whether they could accommodate Robin, and they – Aronofsky – said they would be glad to.”

Aronofsky said the only question regarding Pflugrad’s request was where there was room.

“We got a request for an office and we had some space,” Aronofsky said Thursday. “Space is kind of tight here, but Robin is, as you know, still on the university payroll. And just because he’s no longer coaching for us doesn’t mean we wouldn’t want to accommodate him.”

Pflugrad’s computer from his former office in the Adams Center was transferred to the Mansfield Library, Lind said.

The move is not unprecedented. For example, Arizona State found office space for members of Bruce Snyder’s staff – including Pflugrad, who was then the Sun Devils’ receivers’ coach – after ASU fired the entire coaching staff in 2000.

“I told them that it’s my understanding that other universities have accommodated individuals in such a case,” Lind said.

Lind wondered whether Pflugrad had yet to use the office because the coach had shoulder surgery early in the month.

“During spring ball, a player ran into him and separated his shoulder,” Lind said. “So he had it operated on, and he’s convalescing.

“He may have gone over and checked it out or used it a couple of times; I haven’t spoken to Robin in a few days.”