Montana State Announces Spring Schedule, Pro Day; Hires Nolan Askelson

Montana State laid out a five-week spring roadmap that begins March 24 at 7:05 a.m., includes a Pro Day on April 2 and adds former Bobcat linebacker Nolan Askelson to the coaching staff. The program’s site post and local coverage make clear the reigning FCS champion Bobcats will hold 12 practices, two closed scrimmages and the Sonny Holland Spring Classic over the course of five weeks.

The practice calendar lists exact times across March and April with the first session set for Tuesday, March 24 at 7:05 a.m., followed by practices on March 26 and 27 at 7:05 a.m. and March 30 at 7:05 a.m. April workouts begin April 1 at 7:05 a.m., pause for MSU’s Pro Day on Thursday, April 2, and resume April 3 at 7:05 a.m. and April 4 at 10:05 a.m. Additional practices are scheduled April 7, 14, 16, 21 and 23, all at 7:05 a.m. The schedule designates a closed scrimmage Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. and a second closed scrimmage Saturday, April 18 at 10:05 a.m., with the Sonny Holland Spring Classic concluding spring activity Saturday, April 25. The April 2 entry is listed in the release as "PRO DAY (no practice)."

Montana State confirmed Nolan Askelson will join the staff as an assistant defensive line coach. The Billings native and Billings Senior High alum returned to Bozeman about a month after being hired at UTEP as a defensive analyst, and will work for defensive coordinator Bobby Daly. Daly, who spent the 2025 season as UTEP’s defensive coordinator, returned to Montana State last month to replace Shawn Howe, who is described as Pittsburgh Steelers-bound. The program’s release states, "Askelson is joining his alma mater as an assistant defensive line coach."

Askelson’s resume as a player gives immediate context to the hire. As a senior in 2023 he wore Montana State’s legacy No. 41 and led the team with 84 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and two sacks, finishing the season with first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors. His MSU timeline includes four games as a true freshman in 2018, a regular rotation role in 2019, an injury-shortened 2021 season, and an 11-game, 64-tackle campaign in 2022. A Bozeman Daily Chronicle photo caption captures a representative moment from his playing career: "Montana State linebacker Nolan Askelson sacks North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller during a second-round FCS playoff game Dec. 2, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium."

The schedule and staff addition were released in a site post and local outlets noted, "MSU released its 2026 spring football schedule Friday." Head coach Brent Vigen plans to talk with the media late next week, according to MSU sports information. With Pro Day set for April 2 and spring practice wrapping April 25 at the Sonny Holland Spring Classic, the Bobcats have a tightly packaged window for on-field evaluation and for integrating Askelson into a defensive staff led by Daly.