Allyn “Sonny” Holland – Montana State
Football Head Coach, 1971-77
Allyn “Sonny” Holland was the head football coach at Montana State from 1971-77… Holland became the first coach to lead a Big Sky football program to a national championship when the Bobcats captured the Div. II crown in 1976… Holland led Montana State to a pair of Big Sky championships in 1972 and 1976, while earning another as an assistant coach in 1964… Holland was a two-time Big Sky Coach of the Year, winning the award in 1972 and 1976… Holland won 27 league games as a head coach, which were the most in conference history at the time of his retirement… During his head coaching tenure, his teams produced nine future NFL players and a dozen All-Americans… In the years before the Big Sky’s formation, Holland was a three-time Mid-Bracket All-America player for the Bobcats from 1957-59… As a freshman started at offensive guard and linebacker, he helped lead the team to the 1956 National Championship… His number 52 jersey was the first to ever be retired by Montana State.