A Storm Over the Montana Football Program Montana's football program continues to churn in choppy waters, with the newly designated interim coach, Mick Delaney, telling The Billings Gazette on Thursday that he will not be stepping down any time soon. Delaney was hired March 31 after Coach Robin Pflugrad, last year's Big Sky Conference coach of the year, and Athletic Director Jim O'Day were fired by the university president, Royce Engstrom. Technically, the university opted not to renew their contracts, but the result is the same: O'Day and Pflugrad are no longer employed there. The Montana football team and the university's athletic department are under fire because of sexual assault charges and accusations. According to The Wall Street Journal, an independent investigator looking into the allegations against some players, including the team's starting quarterback, Jordan Johnson, had been stonewalled by a "a lack of response" in attempts to interview witnesses. Running back Beau Donaldson, a junior, is the only player who has been criminally charged with rape. He pleaded not guilty, and has been suspended from the team. According to the Missoula police and The Missoulian newspaper, Donaldson confessed to the rape in a monitored call with his alleged victim. The alleged incidents of sexual assault have rocked Missoula. It "is a shock to Montana," Pat Williams, a member of the Montana Board of Regents, told The Wall Street Journal. We can't believe it. In December 2010, a female student filed a report with the police that she had been sexually assaulted by four football players and another man after drinking to the point of passing out. No charges were filed because of insufficient evidence. Last December The Missoulian reported that at least three players had allegedly been involved in sexual assaults of women and used a date-rape drug. Montana's administration became concerned, and Engstrom asked a former Montana Supreme Court justice, Diane Barz, to investigate. She returned a finding of nine cases of attempted or alleged sexual assaults, but did not specify how many involved members of the football team. She also reported that the football players suspected in the December 2011 incidents refused to speak to her. That was not the end of the controversy. In March, Johnson was accused of rape by a female student, who reported the incident to the police. Johnson denies the allegations, but is under a no-contact order by the judge while the police continue to investigate. Johnson was initially held out of spring practice, but was allowed back after missing three sessions. "I think any time you have a person of Jordy's character and tremendous moral fiber, and he's your team captain and part of the leadership council, your players are going to be fired up," Pflugrad told The Missoulian. Plfugrad's lawyer, Milton Datsopoulos, told The Journal that his client was treated unfairly by being dismissed. "I think O'Day and Pflugrad got terminated because the administration thought that in the face of all this publicity and national attention, someone's head had to roll," Datsopolous said. Engstrom, O'Day's lawyer and the university did not provide comment for the Journal article. Questions had swirled as to how long Delaney would coach the Grizzlies, as he came out of retirement to accept the job. "I'll be the coach through the season," Delaney, 69, said. I would not have taken the position if there was going to be a change in the summer. If we are going to do this to the best of our ability - the coaches, myself and the administration - I need to be there through the entire season.