BHS football coach won't return

Bigfork High School head football coach Bruce Corbett said on Tuesday that he would not return for next season, citing financial reasons.

"I can not tell enough people how much I appreciate their support, especially from the Booster Club and the Gridiron Club," Corbett said. "The community and the kids have been great. It was a difficult decision to make, and certainly one I didn't want to make."

Both Corbett and BHS Assistant Principal and Activities Director Matt Jensen said the controversial death of Jeffrey Bowman, a BHS football player who collapsed during the first practice of the 2007 season and died a week later, was not a factor. A lawsuit filed by Bowman's parents, which specifically names Corbett as a defendant, is currently pending.

Corbett moved to Bigfork from California and began coaching the Vikings football team in the fall of 2007. As a former high school administrator and teacher at the high school and college level, Corbett was hoping to receive a full-time teaching position at BHS while coaching. However, a lack of funding prevented that from becoming a reality.

"I respect the difficult position that Bruce is in and the decision he has made," Jensen said.

This year, the school was able to give him a part-time position teaching a strength and conditioning class two periods a day.

"My first year I worked as a volunteer," Corbett said. "My only income was my coaching stipend. This year the community rallied together and through the Gridiron Club raised money to pay me a salary. But with shrinking enrollment and a decrease in school funding it doesn't look like the school will be able to hire me on full-time any time soon. Those are just concrete things that you can not move."

Corbett said that he is currently looking for a part-time night job in the area so that he can continue to teach his classes and keep the weight room open for the students after school. Corbett was a leader in creating a strength facility and program for the student athletes at BHS.

"We created an awareness about the importance of strength and conditioning throughout the athletics program and that is reflected by the number of kids that have walked through the doors of the weight room," Corbett said.

While coaching in Bigfork, Corbett was unable to break the football team's losing tradition. The last time the team won was against Ronan in the 2005 season.

Corbett, who was brought on as coach as a result of his successful background at the collegiate and high school level, said that the team's lack of wins was not a factor in his decision to resign.

"Winning wasn't the issue," he said. "We were working on rebuilding this program. We made a commitment to the younger kids to improve this program. I came to stay here. I promised Shannon Smith (former activities director) that in 10 years we would have a state championship in football. We were headed to that, but financially I can't afford to stay here."

Jensen confirmed that Corbett's win record was not a factor in the decision, nor was the death of Jeff Bowman, who collapsed during practice last fall and later died. A lawsuit is currently pending which specifically names Corbett, but both the coach and Jensen said that is not a factor either.

"I appreciate his time commitment and the positive energy he put into our students," Jensen said. "He showed a tremendous amount of passion and dedication to the team and the kids. The result was increased participation and a reviewed excitement about Bigfork football."

Although they were unable to find success in the form of wins, Corbett and his staff was able to revive the football program in other ways.

"Myself and my staff feel that we completed what we set out to do," Corbett said. "We were asked to rebuild the football program. We feel that now, going into our third year that they are in a position to win."

During Corbett's tenure the program grew from 17 to 48 players.

Corbett isn't sure what his next move will be.

"I am undecided if I will return to high school administration or coaching," Corbett said. "I have put some feelers out there. There are obviously more opportunities in California, but I came to Montana to stay here so I plan to stay as long as it is a possibility."

If the right circumstances arise he would even be interested in returning to BHS.

"The first time an opening comes up in Bigfork for a full-time position I would come running," Corbett said. "I absolutely love the town and love the people. It would be a great opportunity for me if I could return and finish what we set out to do."