Written by: Brandon Baney
The Salmon High School football is in search of stability, and they may have finally found it in the form of new head coach Quade McQueary.
The soft-spoken Montana native is in his mid-20s, and was a wide receiver at Montana Tech University when Salmon’s recent coaching troubles began in 2019.
That season actually seemed promising on the surface, as rookie coach Tyrell Penner led the Savages to a 5-4 record and a postseason berth. But Penner’s second season in 2020 ended with a 1-6 mark, and he departed during the offseason.
No one knew it at the time, but 2020 would be the last time Salmon had the same head coach for two consecutive seasons.
Kenny Martens took the reins in 2021 and finished 2-5. It was Trey Infanger’s turn in 2022, and the team went 0-7.
2023 marked rock bottom. Kyle Overacker was poised to lead the Savages, but the varsity season was scrapped due to a lack of willing participants.
Now McQueary enters as Salmon’s fifth different coach in five years.
But this hire feels different.
Offseason weight training sessions were well-attended, and although the road back to contention may be a long one, the fact that there’s newfound energy and enthusiasm in Salmon is a win all on its own.