Rob Oviatt Position: Strength and Conditioning

Rob Oviatt (pronounced oh-vee-ott) is in his third season at Montana, and he brought a wealth of experience to the Grizzly football program when he joined the program in 2010.

He has been involved in strength and conditioning for the past 32 years at several different universities. He worked in that capacity for 19 seasons in the Pac-12 Conference.

"Coach O" is more than a strength and conditioning coach at UM. He is also heavily involved in the Grizzlies' daily practice sessions during spring ball and during the season.

He came to Montana from Washington State University, where he served as the assistant athletic director for strength and conditioning from 2000-08. During his time with the Cougars, they had three consecutive 10-win seasons, and appeared in the Rose, Sun, and Holiday Bowls. He received the Admiral Ulysses Grant Sharp Award at the 2003 Holiday Bowl, which was voted on by WSU players.

Prior to his stint in Pullman, he was the director of strength and conditioning at Louisiana State University (1999) and the head strength coach for football at Kentucky (1995-98). He was chosen the SEC Strength Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1998.

His first stint in the Pac-10 was at Oregon State, where he was the director of strength and conditioning for all sports including football from 1985 to 1994.

He has also worked in the strength and conditioning field at the University of Houston (1984), Texas A&M (1983), and the University of Mississippi (1981-82). He began his career as a voluntary assistant strength coach at the University of Alabama, working for the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Oviatt is a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and served as president of that organization from 2004-08. He was selected to the USA Strength & Conditioning Coach Hall of Fame in June of 2002.

He received the Master Strength and Conditioning Coach Award in May of 2001.

He earned a B.S. degree in education at Alabama in 1980. He received a M.E. at Mississippi in 1982.

His wife's name is Kathleen. Rob has four children: daughters Lindsay, Allison, April and son William.