University of Montana Men's Football

Green Coach Green is in his sixth season at his alma mater coaching the running backs, and serving as the Grizzlies recruiting coordinator.   Green, from San Diego, Calif., has worked with the running backs at UM the past five seasons. He worked as a student assistant coach at Montana in 2011, also working with the running backs.   He coached one of the most prolific halfbacks in school history in Jordan Canada. Canada is ranked fourth at Montana in rushing yards (3,435) and rushing touchdowns (40). In his senior season of 2014 he rushed for 1,207 yards the seventh most ever in a year. In 2014 he became the second player in UM history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons (he gained 1,062 in 2013).   Three seasons ago, Canada and was an honorable mention all-league pick, while four seasons ago senior running back Peter Nguyen was a second team selection. Nguyen is ranked sixth in school history with 1,985 career rushing yards. Peters brother John Nguyen is currently starting at running back for Coach Green, and received an honorable mention from the Big Sky Conference in the 2015 season.   Green had a stellar two-year career at running back at Montana, and he also played for four seasons in the National Football League.   He rushed for 1,784 career yards in his two seasons at Montana in 2003 and 2004, which ranks him 11th in school history. As a junior, he rushed for 1,146 yards and 14 touchdowns, and was chosen the Big Sky "Newcomer of the Year."   He was a fifth round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2005, and had a four-year career in the NFL. He played three seasons at fullback for the Ravens, and then played one year for the Phoenix Cardinals for one season.   Between his stint with the Ravens and Cardinals, he coached for one season at Berean High School in Walnut Creek, Calif., working with the running backs, linebackers, and cornerbacks. He returned to Berean High School again, after his final NFL season with the Cardinals, once again working with the running backs, linebackers, and cornerbacks.   He came to Montana from San Diego Mesa College where he played for one season (2002), and was team captain and co-MVP, rushing for 874 yards and 7 TDs, and was a JC Gridwire All-America honorable mention. He started his college career at San Diego State, where he redshirted in 2000, and he lettered for the Aztecs in 2001.   He was a standout running back at University of San Diego High School where he rushed for 5,397 career yards which at the time was the most in San Diego County history. He was a first team All-C.I.F. selection as a junior and senior. His junior year in high school he rushed for 2,385 yards, which was the fifth most in California prep history, while his senior season he rushed for 1,801 yards and 20 TDs, and was tabbed a USA Today honorable mention All-American.   He earned a degree in sociology at UM. Justin and his wife, Meghan, have two daughters, six-year-old Giana, and Karis, who is one year old.