Brian Armstrong enters his second season at Nevada as the Wolf Pack's Run Game Coordinator and offensive line coach.
In his first campaign in Reno, one member of The Union, Isaiah World, was named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention, while two more members, guard Josh Grabowski and center Andrew Madrigal, performed to a standard which earned each of them 2025 preseason All-Mountain West recognition from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Twice in 2024 The Union plowed the road for 300-yard rushing games, topped by 353 yards and five rushing touchdowns in a 42-37 Homecoming win over Oregon State. Overall, the Wolf Pack run game topped the 200-yard mark four times, and finished the season going for 163.5 yards per game and 21 touchdowns.
Armstrong, who served on Montana State’s staff from 2016-22, including all four seasons of Choate’s tenure, came to Reno after a year (2023) at Fresno State, where he oversaw the offensive line.
Two members of the Bulldog offensive line earned All-Mountain West honors in 2023. Mose Vavao was named to the second team, while Jacob Spomer earned honorable mention. The Bulldog offensive line was dominant in Fresno State's 37-10 New Mexico Bowl victory over New Mexico State Dec. 18, not giving up a sack as the offense churned out exactly 500 yards of offense.
Prior to joining the Fresno State staff, Armstrong spent four seasons as Montana State’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator, after serving as tight ends coach and offensive coordinator for the Bobcats. In his final season in Bozeman, Montana State went 12-2, captured the Big Sky title, and made its third-straight FCS semifinal appearance. The Bobcat offense ranked second in the FCS and led the Big Sky in rushing offense, churning out 311.9 rushing yards per game. The Bobcats ranked third in the FCS in scoring offense (42.9 points per game) and fourth in total offense (495.1 yards per game).Â
Individually, Armstrong coached an FCS All-America offensive lineman in each of his four seasons overseeing the Bobcat offensive line. Lewis Kidd earned first-team All-America honors in 2021, then signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints, appearing in 13 games during the 2022 campaign.
In 2021, Montana State reached the FCS Championship Game. The Bobcats finished seventh in the FCS with 220.9 rushing yards per game. Montana State was 21st in the FCS in sacks allowed (1.33 per game) under Armstrong's leadership.
Armstrong's success as an offensive line coach showed in each of his years with Montana State, taking the 2019 team to the FCS semifinals and finishing seventh in the FCS in fewest sacks allowed, 8th in rushing offense, 27th in scoring offense. In 2016, he coached offensive line for team that finished 17th in the FCS in rushing offense, and 14th in red zone offense.
With Rocky Mountain, he was named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2013. He is second on Rocky Mountain's all-time win-loss record as head coach. His 2013 team appeared in the NAIA Playoffs.
He has coached 10 total All-Americans: offensive linemen Rush Reimer (2022, Third Team), Lewis Kidd (2021, First Team), Mitch Brott (2019, Second Team), JP Flynn (2016, Third Team), Sonny Ah Kui (2010), and Dima Vasilevskiy, wide receiver Andre McCulloch (2013-15), and quarterback Kasey Peters (2010).
