Associated Press
Tommy Lee, offensive coordinator for the University of Utah, has been named head football coach at Western Montana in Dillon, Mont.
He succeeds Duane Rilla as the Bulldogs’ head coach.
Rilla has been undergoing cancer treatment since early 2000. He will remain on staff as a teacher, school officials said.
"We appreciate the efforts and commitment of coach Rilla," WMC chancellor Stephen T. Hulbert said in a formal statement. "His dedication to the student-athlete and his coaching staff were exceptional."
Rilla served as WMC head coach for two seasons and posted a 2-18 record.
Lee spent the past six years on the Utah staff, the last three as offensive coordinator. He was also an offensive coordinator for the University of Montana under Don Read after serving in a similar role at Portland State. He was the head coach at Willamette (Ore.) for 10 years.
While at Montana, Lee’s offense ranked in the nation’s top 10 for four years and he coached two All-Big Sky Conference quarterbacks. Lee’s past also includes offensive coordinator positions with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and San Antonio of the World League.
Lee was an NAIA All-American quarterback at Willamette, where he earned the college’s "Athlete of the Year" honor. He also played a season with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL. Lee has been inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Willamette College Hall of Fame.
Players coached by Lee include this year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Mike Anderson of the Denver Broncos; former UM all-time passing leader Grady Bennett; former Grizzly quarterback Brent Pease, who was an All-Big Sky Conference selection; and Mike Fouts, University of Utah passing record holder.
Lee’s coaching career began as a high school coach. He spent eight years in the prep ranks — at St. Louis High School in Honolulu and at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore.
Lee is the brother of St. Louis coach Cal Lee and University of Hawai‘i assistant coach Ron Lee.
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