The Bobcat Nation

Ridiculous:

Vigen:
Overall 61-12 (.836)
Big Sky 37-3 (.925)
Playoffs 12-4 (.750)
Home 39-2 (.951)

Other MSU Coaches:
Ash (2007-15) 65-32 (.670)
Holland (1971-77) 47-27-1 (.633)
Hysell (1992-99) 41-47 (.466)
Kramer (2000-06) 40-43 (.482)
Dyche (1928-41) 36-53-7 (.427)
Storti (1952-57) 31-12-1 (.724)
Sweeney (1963-67) 31-20 (.608)
Agocs (1958-62) 30-13-2 (.689)
Romney (1922-27) 28-20-1 (.582)
Choate (2016-2020) 28-22 (.560)

Really amazing!

It isn't a 100% fair comparison to other coaches, as some of them took over the program when it was in rough shape or even needed a full rebuild (Hysell, Choate, etc) which caused some rough seasons with few wins. Vigen came in when things were in pretty good shape to start with. But still an amazing win percentage, and hes an amazing coach! Definitely in the conversation for best Bobcat football coach ever.

It's all incredible, but 3 conference losses in 5 seasons stands out to me as the most insane.

Yes, it's fair to point out that Vigen took over a good program on the right trajectory. But consider that even in 2019, the high watermark of the Bobcats under Choate, MSU lost two conference games in back-to-back weeks (Vs. SAC, @ UND). Losing two consecutive games in BSC play has become unthinkable for Bobcat fans.

It's tough to compare eras and even Vigen has mentioned there are more games played in a season now and expanded playoff fields (MSU won nine Big Sky titles in the first 20 years of the conference, but only went to the playoffs twice in that time), etc., but what he has done has been nothing short of amazing.

MrGoodKat wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:43 pm

It's all incredible, but 3 conference losses in 5 seasons stands out to me as the most insane.

Yes, it's fair to point out that Vigen took over a good program on the right trajectory. But consider that even in 2019, the high watermark of the Bobcats under Choate, MSU lost two conference games in back-to-back weeks (Vs. SAC, @ UND). Losing two consecutive games in BSC play has become unthinkable for Bobcat fans.

If that happened now people on this board would be saying Vigen needs to go. That's how far the standard has been raised.

GoldstoneCat wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 1:29 pm

MrGoodKat wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:43 pm

It's all incredible, but 3 conference losses in 5 seasons stands out to me as the most insane.

Yes, it's fair to point out that Vigen took over a good program on the right trajectory. But consider that even in 2019, the high watermark of the Bobcats under Choate, MSU lost two conference games in back-to-back weeks (Vs. SAC, @ UND). Losing two consecutive games in BSC play has become unthinkable for Bobcat fans.

If that happened now people on this board would be saying Vigen needs to go. That's how far the standard has been raised.

CERTAIN posters on this board are calling for him to be fired after a bad half...

Barring an insane total collapse he will fly by Ash and become our all time winningest coach next fall. Feels like he should stick around at least until he reaches triple figures.

84CatGrad wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 1:50 pm

Barring an insane total collapse he will fly by Ash and become our all time winningest coach next fall. Feels like he should stick around at least until he reaches triple figures.

Ash actually has 70 (70-38) but Vigen will still likely pass him late next year. Looking at the schedule, I have a hard time picturing us not getting 10 wins.

The 37-3 Big Sky record becomes 40-3 if you count his playoff wins over Weber, Idaho, and UM. And he has never lost a single Big Sky home game, 23-0 including playoffs there. To me it's incredibly impressive that there has never been a letdown or a trap game, the team is simply very well-prepared and shows up ready to play every single week.

91catAlum wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:30 pm

Really amazing!

It isn't a 100% fair comparison to other coaches, as some of them took over the program when it was in rough shape or even needed a full rebuild (Hysell, Choate, etc) which caused some rough seasons with few wins. Vigen came in when things were in pretty good shape to start with. But still an amazing win percentage, and hes an amazing coach! Definitely in the conversation for best Bobcat football coach ever.

How did Hysell get a full rebuild? And honestly did he rebuild anything? We sucked when he was let go.

After Vigen breaks the record it's going to stand for a long time. He'll have 70+ wins in only 6 seasons which means the coach to break it will have to either do even better in 6 seasons or do worse and stay for 7+.

It's hard to believe we'll find another coach that will have the same or better (or only slightly less great) performance and be able to keep him for 6 or more seasons. Just about everyone else would leave no later than year 4. The other alternative for breaking the record is someone that manages to win 8-10 games a year that sticks around for 7-10 years (look 200 miles to the west). I have a hard time believing that's going to be acceptable at MSU for quite some time. The most likely scenario for passing Vigen will be after the program goes through another slump and then builds back and we luck into a coach that isn't trying to leave every year: essentially Vigen 2.0.

Vigen's record is going to stand for decades.

AFCAT wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:52 pm

It's tough to compare eras and even Vigen has mentioned there are more games played in a season now and expanded playoff fields (MSU won nine Big Sky titles in the first 20 years of the conference, but only went to the playoffs twice in that time), etc., but what he has done has been nothing short of amazing.

Yes, but… Vigen’s teams have never been below the 8 seed. So he hasn’t necessarily “benefited” from the expanded playoffs. His teams would have made it whether it was a 16 or 24 team field. And he’s never played in the 1st round to get an extra game.

Catsrgrood wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 3:20 pm

AFCAT wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:52 pm

It's tough to compare eras and even Vigen has mentioned there are more games played in a season now and expanded playoff fields (MSU won nine Big Sky titles in the first 20 years of the conference, but only went to the playoffs twice in that time), etc., but what he has done has been nothing short of amazing.

Yes, but… Vigen’s teams have never been below the 8 seed. So he hasn’t necessarily “benefited” from the expanded playoffs. His teams would have made it whether it was a 16 or 24 team field. And he’s never played in the 1st round to get an extra game.

And the players get an extra 6 weeks of practice a year......

Catsrgrood wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 3:20 pm

AFCAT wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:52 pm

It's tough to compare eras and even Vigen has mentioned there are more games played in a season now and expanded playoff fields (MSU won nine Big Sky titles in the first 20 years of the conference, but only went to the playoffs twice in that time), etc., but what he has done has been nothing short of amazing.

Yes, but… Vigen’s teams have never been below the 8 seed. So he hasn’t necessarily “benefited” from the expanded playoffs. His teams would have made it whether it was a 16 or 24 team field. And he’s never played in the 1st round to get an extra game.

I believe Vigen meant since the 70s and even before when you could win a conference and still not go to the playoffs because there wasn't a playoff system or if there was a playoff system, there wasn't an auto conference bid. Like I wrote, the Cats won 9 conference titles up to 1984 and only went to the playoffs twice because there either wasn't a playoff system at the time or when there was a playoff system, there wasn't an auto bid. Not to mention 9 games seasons back in the day to 10, 11 or 12 game seasons now. If there was expanded playoff systems available back in the day and more games played, then other coaches might have had even more wins.

lutecat wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 2:59 pm

91catAlum wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:30 pm

Really amazing!

It isn't a 100% fair comparison to other coaches, as some of them took over the program when it was in rough shape or even needed a full rebuild (Hysell, Choate, etc) which caused some rough seasons with few wins. Vigen came in when things were in pretty good shape to start with. But still an amazing win percentage, and hes an amazing coach! Definitely in the conversation for best Bobcat football coach ever.

How did Hysell get a full rebuild? And honestly did he rebuild anything? We sucked when he was let go.

@lutecat , If he was willing to let me walk on... you know times were bad At least his cowboy hat lives on! To be fair, times were different back then, we were happy to win a few games, drink a few beers, and do our best to get to class.

lutecat wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 2:59 pm

91catAlum wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:30 pm

Really amazing!

It isn't a 100% fair comparison to other coaches, as some of them took over the program when it was in rough shape or even needed a full rebuild (Hysell, Choate, etc) which caused some rough seasons with few wins. Vigen came in when things were in pretty good shape to start with. But still an amazing win percentage, and hes an amazing coach! Definitely in the conversation for best Bobcat football coach ever.

How did Hysell get a full rebuild? And honestly did he rebuild anything? We sucked when he was let go.

"...some of them took over the program when it was in rough shape or even needed a full rebuild..."

I'm just saying it isn't apples to apples. If Hysell took over in 2021, he'd have a better W/L record than he did in the 90s. If Vigen took over in 1993, he'd have a worse record than he does now.
Not taking anything away from Vigen, he's amazing. I'm just saying W/L records aren't always an even comparison.

I’d throw Sonny Holland a bone in that the conference was better then. Nevada-Reno, Boise State and Idaho were always really good at that time. Great conference and some epic games. Cats rarely lost at home. At least when I was there which was 74-78.

Mtcatfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:39 pm

I’d throw Sonny Holland a bone in that the conference was better then. Nevada-Reno, Boise State and Idaho were always really good at that time. Great conference and some epic games. Cats rarely lost at home. At least when I was there which was 74-78.

Definitely a tough conference then. Nevada Reno came into the Big Sky after Sonny was head coach, although they were an independent team at the same time.

Mtcatfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:39 pm

I’d throw Sonny Holland a bone in that the conference was better then. Nevada-Reno, Boise State and Idaho were always really good at that time. Great conference and some epic games. Cats rarely lost at home. At least when I was there which was 74-78.

Yeah, and the gris really took advantage of those schools leaving the conference in the 90's and nobody else really did a whole lot. From 1995 to 2004, obviously those were some of the best years for the gris, but only once did another BSC team (besides um) finish the season in the top 10 (EWU finished 4th in '97). More recently, while the Bobcats have been the strongest team in the conference, the BSC has regularly had 2-4 teams finish in the top 10 nationally, so Vigen's record is pretty impressive through that lens.

lutecat wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 2:59 pm

91catAlum wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:30 pm

Really amazing!

It isn't a 100% fair comparison to other coaches, as some of them took over the program when it was in rough shape or even needed a full rebuild (Hysell, Choate, etc) which caused some rough seasons with few wins. Vigen came in when things were in pretty good shape to start with. But still an amazing win percentage, and hes an amazing coach! Definitely in the conversation for best Bobcat football coach ever.

How did Hysell get a full rebuild? And honestly did he rebuild anything? We sucked when he was let go.

@lutecat, there was some discussion about Hysell in the NC game thread. I cannot let disparaging remarks about Coach Hysell stand.

BLACKnBLUEnGOLD wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 03, 2026 7:57 pm

grizzh8r wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:44 am

Augustus wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 03, 2026 9:49 am

The only thing Hysell should be credited for is leaving.

This is simply not true. Hysell righted a listing ship that was taking on water and made MSU competitive again. He rebuilt the high school recruiting bridges in Montana that "The Pearl" burned (scorched earth style). People are so quick to give Kramer so much credit, but in his 7 seasons as HC, he won less than 50% of his games (40-43 record). Hysell went 41-47 in 8 seasons, and had a MUCH harder rebuild job. Sure, Kramer's tenure included the 2000 0-11 season, but he gutted the team inherited from Hysell.

Kramer was a better promoter, and he ended The Streak, so people tend to give him more credit. Overall his teams were only a little better than Hysell's, but they were a lot more exciting.

Really, all 5 of the last coaches have improved the overall health of the program, which is pretty remarkable. We ought to call that The Streak.