Wolfpack names new soccer coach

Glacier High School activities director Mark Dennehy has announced that Brenden Byrd has been selected as the head coach for girls varsity soccer pending school board approval.

"We are excited to have a coach that displays such an amazing passion for coaching and soccer," Dennehy said in a press release.

"Brenden has coached in successful high school programs."

Byrd, 30, was a four-year varsity boys assistant coach in Whitefish under his very successful brother O'Brien, and was an assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach with the Helena Capital boys for three years.

Byrd currently coaches the Glacier U-16 team.

"I'm very, very excited," Byrd said.

"It's a whole new step in my career of coaching."

Byrd replaces Paul Holmgren, who resigned in December after five seasons with the Wolfpack. Glacier advanced to state in the first and third years with Holmgren.

Last season the Wolfpack went 0-11-1.

"The coaches before did such a great job of bringing in tradition, so I want to build on that," Byrd said.

"I want to bring my enthusiasm, bring that competitive edge to a high school program. I'm just looking forward to the next several years."

Byrd is a former all-conference Columbia Falls High School soccer player. He was a defensive standout for the Wildcats and a three-year starter.

Byrd operates a family business in Kalispell.