Montana Western, University of

Mike Cutler, a native of Phillipsburg, Mont., is a 1994 graduate of Western Montana College with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education. He received a Masters in Education from the University of Montana in 2002.

Cutler was originally recruited as a running back where he earned second team all-conference honors after his sophomore season. He moved to linebacker his junior season and earned first team all-conference honors.

His football career was put on hold in 1992 due to a farming accident. Cutler returned to the Bulldog lineup in 1993 and earned first team all-conference, all-district and All-American honors. 

One of his memorable moments is beating Carroll College 49-16 in 1990 that ended Carroll’s 28-game conference winning streak. His teammates include fellow Hall of Famers, Scott Evans, J.P. Gallahger, Manny Garza, Troy Lake and Dan Olson. 

After graduation, Cutler began his teaching and coaching at Denton. From Denton, he moved to Townsend where he taught and coached for two years. In 2002, he moved back to his hometown to become head football coach and superintendent of schools. His teams won three state titles. He is currently superintendent of schools in Polson, Mont.

In May of 2003, Mike was faced with his biggest challenge, when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. In the Fall of 2003, he underwent a stem-cell transplant in Seattle. The donor was his sister Kara. He continues to be cancer free. Mike and his wife Jody are the parents of Sydney and Kade.