Browne resigns as 'Cats soccer coach

Peter Browne, who guided Columbia Falls to three Class A state boys soccer championships, has resigned as the Wildcats head coach.

Browne, 54, officially notified the school of his decision last month over the holiday break.

“I know I’m gonna miss it,” Brown said.

“It’s time for a change, a little different approach.”

Browne said he considered stepping down in the past, but elected to stay the course.

“The last couple of years I’ve been thinking about it,” he said.

“It’s kind of been on my mind.

“I had a group I wanted to see through this year,” he said.

“The seniors ... I decided to stick with them.”

Columbia Falls finished the season with a 2-10 mark.

“It’s been great,” he said.

“I’ve had the privilege to work with some great athletes, some great administrators. As far as my coaching career, the parents have been supportive, awesome, too.”

Browne will continued to teach U.S. history to juniors and seniors at Columbia Falls High School. He has 23 years of coaching experience on the pitch.

“Peter wanted to leave with the program on top again, but just felt that the program needs to take a different direction under new coaching leadership,” Columbia Falls activities director Troy Bowman said in a press release.

“Peter knows how to win, he is a class act and truly believes he is doing what is best for the CFHS boys soccer program at this time. Personally, I will miss coach Browne’s presence on the pitch. He was, and still is, a great role-model for our young men in the classroom and on the field.”

Browne started as an assistant at Columbia Falls in 2000 under Brian Hull.

Columbia Falls won state championships with Browne as the head coach in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

The Wildcats were runners-up in 2004 and semifinalists in 2006 and 2007.

“Winning those three state championships,” he said of his coaching highlights.

“The first one was a little bit of a surprise, beating Whitefish. They (Bulldogs) had beaten us twice throughout the season. We came back from a 1-0 deficit at the half. We won 2-1.”

Columbia Falls also beat Whitefish for the title in 2003 in overtime, 4-2.

The 2005 championship was in Billings, a 2-1 overtime win over Billings Central.

“Columbia Falls is a great place to coach,” Browne said.

“The first 10 years we had a great youth program, built a winning tradition in soccer. That has dissolved since 1998. It’s not the kids’ fault. Someone needs to get in there on the grass-roots level.”

Browne also coached Whitefish boys soccer from 1991-1998. He led the Bulldogs to a state championship game, losing to Class AA Helena Capital 2-0 in the final in Butte in 1997.

Whitefish qualifed for state four times with Browne on the sidelines.

His overall coaching record is 151-101-14. At Columbia Falls, it’s 74-86-14.

“It’s been a big part of my life,” Brown said.

“In coaching you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I’ve been at both ends of it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”