Brian Armstrong
Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Email: brian.armstrong@rocky.edu
Biography
Brian Armstrong enters his sixth season at Rocky Mountain College and fourth season as the head coach. In 2010, Armstrong was also recognized as the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year. Before becoming the head football coach, Armstrong was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. He will be coaching the quarterbacks, as well as calling the plays this season. While at RMC, Armstrong has produced a nationally ranked offense.
Armstrong comes to RMC after having been the head football coach at Kathleen High School in Lakeland, Fla., where he compiled a 21-6 record in two years. In his two years, his teams won two District 10 titles and were regional finalists in 2005 and regional semi-finalists in 2006. Armstrong was also voted regional and District 10 "Coach of the Year" while at Kathleen.
Before taking the head coaching position at Kathleen, Armstrong spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as a graduate assistant at Utah State University, working with the offensive line and special teams.
During the 2001 season Armstrong worked as an assistant coach at Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Fla., before being named the head coach there in 2002. His Lake Gibson team went 11-3, winning the District 4A-7 championship and making it to the regional finals. For his teams efforts, Armstrong was named District 7 "Coach of the Year," Lakeland Ledger "Coach of the Year," and Tampa Tribune "Coach of the Year."
Armstrong started his coaching career in 1996 at Western Montana College before moving to Morgan (Utah) High School in 1997 and then to Broadwater High School in Townsend, Mont., in 1998-99.
Armstrong played offensive line at Western Montana College from 1992-95 and was an All-American his senior year, as well as a two time all-conference selection. He also wrestled at Western Montana, and his team won the national championship his sophomore year.
He is a 1992 graduate of Helena High School and earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Western Montana in 1998. He then earned his master's of education in physical education from Utah State University in 2004.
Armstrong and his wife, Julie, have two children, Michael and Alissa.
Recruiting territory: Local schools (Billings, Bozeman, Helena), transfer students
Matt Hollowell
Defensive Coordinator
Email: matt.hollowell@rocky.edu
Biography
Matt Hollowell begins his sixth season with the Battlin' Bears and his fifth season as defensive coordinator.
Hollowell comes to RMC from Belgrade (MT) High School where he was the head coach for seven seasons. While there he led the Panthers to six playoff appearances, one conference title, and a 41-26 record.
He completed his playing career and earned his bachelor's of science degree in elementary education from Dickinson State University (ND).
Hollowell and his wife, Treba, have two children, Janie and Bon.
Recruiting territory: Eastern Montana, Wyoming, California
B.J. Robertson
Special Teams Coordinator/Asst. Head Coach
Email: bj.robertson@rocky.edu
Biography
B.J. Robertson enters his sixth season on the Battlin' Bear coaching staff. Robertson continues to coordinate the special teams and this season will coach the RMC secondary.
Robertson comes to RMC from Southern Oregon University, where he served as the assistant head coach, wide receivers coach, strength and conditioning coach, and recruiting coordinator. Prior to the 2006 season, Robertson coached at Rockford College from 2001-2005. In 2001-02 he worked as a graduate assistant coaching the running backs and working as the strength coach. In 2003, Robertson was elevated to full-time status, serving as the passing game coordinator, strength and conditioning coach, and recruiting coordinator. In 2004-05, he added the title assistant head coach while serving as the wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2005, Robertson earned Rockford College's "Staff Person of the Year" award.
Prior to coaching at Rockford, Robertson served as the head coach and athletic director at Rapelje (MT) High School. From 1995-1997, he worked as an assistant coach at Twin Bridges (MT) High School under his former head coach, Rob Lott.
Robertson played at Western Montana College where he was a member of two Frontier Conference championship teams in 1993 and 1994. He also was a member of the WMC NAIA semi-final team in 1994.
He is a high school graduate of Sheridan (MT) High School and earned his bachelor's of science from Western Montana College in business education in 1998. He went on to obtain a master's of arts in teaching with an emphasis in physical education in 2003 from Rockford (IL) College.
Recruiting territory: Western Montana, Central Montana, Oregon, Washington, California
Erin O'Neill
Linebackers
Biography
Coach O’Neill grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings Central in 1992. While attending Billings Central Catholic School, he played football, track, and basketball. After high school, O'Neill continued his education and playing career at Dickinson State University. While playing for the Blue Hawks, he was a four-year letter winner while playing outside linebacker. In his last year at Dickinson, 1995, the Blue Hawks finished the season with their first ever 10-win undefeated regular season. He later transferred to MSU-Bozeman and earned his bachelor's degree in business management in 1998.
In 2001, O'Neill started his coaching career at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. During his tenure at Colorado School of Mines, he coached the wide receivers. From 2002 through 2006, O'Neill coached football at Niwot High School in Niwot, Colo. While at Niwot, O'Neill was the head freshman coach, head J.V. coach, as well as the coach for the varsity offensive line, wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends. From 2007 to 2009, O'Neill was the linebacker coach/defensive coordinator at Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont. Coach O’Neill returns for his second season coaching the linebackers at Rocky Mountain College.
He and his wife, Solange, have two boys, Aidan and Ronan.
Ryan Workman
Assistant Coach/Tight Ends & Fullbacks
Biography
Ryan Workman grew up and went to high school in Spring Creek, Nevada, where he was a two sport athlete (football and baseball). After graduation, he attended Great Basin College where he graduated with a degree in secondary education in 2010. Ryan spent the last five years coaching football and wrestling at Spring Creek High School. Workman will be coaching tight ends and fullbacks, and he will also be working on a second degree in managerial accounting at RMC.
Recruiting territory: Nevada, California
Nathan Barnett
Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers
Biography
Coach Barnett is in his second season of coaching the wide receivers at RMC. Born and raised in southern California, Nathan Barnett played receiver at Rocky Mountain College in 2009 and 2010 and was named first team all-conference after his senior season. He's a recent RMC graduate with a bachelor's of science in health sciences. In the offseason, Coach Barnett is a certified personal trainer and is studying to become a paramedic.
Recruiting territory: California
Chad Smith
Offensive Line/Video Coordinator
Biography
Chad Smith “Smitty” begins his third season of coaching at RMC after playing linebacker for the Battlin' Bears.
Chad is an RMC graduate with a major in exercise science and a minor in aviation and coaching. Smith comes from the ranch community of Eden, Mont., where he played 8-man football in Centerville and was part of the 2004 state semi-finalist team.
Sam Honeyman
Running Backs
Biography
Coach Honeyman grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings Central Catholic High School, where he was a member of the Rams football team. After graduating from Central, Sam continued his football playing career at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. He graduated from Dickinson in 2009 with a degree in history education.
Honeyman came to RMC from Highland Community College in Kansas where he spent the 2011 season as the defensive line coach. Prior to that, he was the special teams coach at Missoula Hellgate High School in 2010. At RMC, Coach Honeyman works with the running backs.
Recruiting territory: Idaho, California
