Montana Finalizes Defensive Staff: Eric Sanders Named DC, Johnson, Nurse Hired

Eric Sanders was named Montana’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on March 2, 2026, closing out Bobby Kennedy’s initial defensive staff and bringing a coach credited with improving Eastern Washington’s defense into the Big Sky rival. 406mtsports and the Missoulian reported EWU’s defense last fall tied for seventh in the Big Sky at 30.2 points per game allowed, ranked 11th with 437.8 yards per game and ninth in total sacks, while also ranking third in interceptions and third in forced fumbles.

Kennedy cited his Stanford connection to Sanders in explaining the hire and emphasized schematic versatility. 406mtsports and MontanaSports/AP quote Kennedy: “I'm really pleased with being able to bring in Eric Sanders. We coached together at Stanford. I saw what he did there developing linebacker crew, the energy and passion that he brought.” 406mtsports also reported Kennedy saying of Sanders’ scheme, “What I liked about him, very multiple. Could go between three-down and four-down. Had a great blitz package. Can play zone and man. Good Cover 2. Good quarters. He has a multiple defense and that's really what I was kind of looking for.”

Sources differ on Sanders’ exact EWU title timeline; NBC Montana described him as having spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator at Eastern, while the Spokesman and EWU coverage say he joined Eastern in 2023 and served as defensive coordinator in the most recent seasons. Daily Inter Lake and NBC Montana list Sanders’ broader résumé with NFL stops, citing the Oakland Raiders (2010-14), Cleveland Browns (2016-18) and New York Jets (2019), along with college stops at Stanford, UC Davis and Utah State.

Montana also hired Jaylen Johnson as defensive line coach and Wes Nurse as safeties coach, both arriving from Eastern Washington and removed from EWU’s 2026 roster as the Eagles work to fill three vacancies. Johnson coached EWU’s defensive line the past two seasons after moving to Eastern in 2024, according to the Spokesman and Daily Inter Lake; his playing and coaching timeline includes University of Washington from 2014-2018, a 2019 free-agent signing with the Denver Broncos, high school coaching in 2019, a defensive-line graduate assistant stint at Washington from 2021-2023 and a Master’s in English from Washington in 2023.

Wes Nurse joins as safeties coach after coaching cornerbacks on Sanders’ staff at EWU, and brings a Boise State pedigree. MontanaSports/AP notes Nurse was a three-year starting safety at Boise State, twice an All-Western Athletic Conference first-team pick and 2003 team MVP, and that three defensive backs he coached at Boise State were later selected in the NFL Draft: Gerald Alexander (2nd round, 2006), Orlando Scandrick (4th round, 2008) and Kyle Wilson (1st round, 2010). Nurse said, “Thank you to coach Kennedy for affording me the opportunity to be a part of this great program. It's an excellent opportunity to be around a great group of players and coaches, and to be a part of a tradition-rich program at Montana.” Kennedy added context on Nurse: “Coach Nurse has coached a number of positions on defense, and it was important for me to hire someone with that experience, but someone also has experience at a high level. He's coached at Houston, EWU, and made numerous stops around the west, including in Montana. He loves this state and wanted to come back, and it was apparent to me he'd be a great fit here. He's demanding, but will have a great relationship with the players.”

The trio’s arrival completes Kennedy’s defensive room alongside returning cornerbacks coach Kim McCloud and comes amid the post-Bobby Hauck staff shuffle that followed Hauck’s Feb. 4 retirement and subsequent move to Illinois as a defensive coordinator on Feb. 9. Spokesman and EWU coverage note the hires deepen Montana’s recruiting pitch and could shift Big Sky dynamics by poaching schematic continuity and NFL connections from a conference rival. Montana begins spring drills March 2 and will stage its annual spring game April 10 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, where Kennedy and Sanders will have a first look at how the “multiple” defense translates to the Grizzlies’ personnel and to prospects drawing pro attention and NIL valuation.