Montana Western, University of

Ryan Nourse is the 25^th head coach of Montana Western football program. He begins his twelfth season as head coach at Montana Western in the fall of 2025 and has a 64-45 (.703) all-time record. He is the winningest coach in UMW history and has the second longest tenure.

Nourse was named head coach in 2011 and guided the Bulldogs for two seasons, doubling the win total each season before leaving to serve as Athletic Director for three years. Since his return to the sidelines in the fall of 2016, his Bulldogs have been ranked or received votes in the Coaches Top-25 poll 59 times.
 
He has coached 14 All-Americans, 69 All-Frontier Conference selections, 43 Daktronics Scholar-Athletes, 18 National Football Foundation Honor Society selections, 16 Academic All-District selections, three Academic All-America selections, and 226 Frontier Conference All-Academic Team selections.

Nourse took a pause from 2013-2016 where he served as Athletic Director for Montana Western. During his three-year tenure as the Athletic Director, Montana Western added cross country and cheerleading as varsity sports. He has also been credited with growing athletic fundraising efforts including installing a corporate sponsorship program and significantly increasing revenue from the Bulldog Booster Bash, the Athletic Department’s major fundraising event.

Prior to taking over the head coaching job at Montana Western, Nourse made stops at Morningside College, Truman State University, and Western State College.

Nourse played wide receiver at Montana Western from 1992-94, winning two Frontier Conference Championships and a trip to the 1994 NAIA national semifinals. His 1994 team is in the UMW Athletic Hall of Fame.

A native of Libby, Mont., Nourse earned a Bachelor of Science in history and political science education from Western Montana College (now the University of Montana Western) in 1997 and a Master of Arts in professional education from Morningside College in 2007. He is married to Tracy Nourse and they have two children; Olivia and Eli.

Highlights
Season                 W-L Overall        W-L Conf.            Frontier Finish  NAIA Ranking
2024                       10-2                        7-1                          First                      5
2023                       9-2                          7-1                          First                      8
2022                       7-4                          6-4                          Fourth                  RV
2021                       8-4                          7-3                          T-First                   18
2020                                                       COVID SEASON
2019                       7-3                          7-3                          Second                 22
2018                       6-4                          6-4                          T-Second             RV
2017                       4-7                          4-6                          Seventh               N/A
2016                       7-4                          6-4                          Third                     20
2012                       4-6                          4-6                          Fifth                     N/A
2011                       2-9                          2-8                          Sixth                    N/A