Montana’s Two-Time Capital One Mascot of the Year
Missoula, MT · Various Sports
★Mascot Hall of Fame — Class of 2024
| Team / Organization | Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz |
|---|---|
| Location | Missoula, MT |
| League / Division | NCAA (Big Sky Conference) |
| First Debuted | 1993 |
| Species / Type | Grizzly bear (anthropomorphic) |
| Best Known For | 2× Capital One Mascot of the Year; acrobatic performances; community outreach across rural Montana |
| Year Inducted | 2024 |
Profile
Monte is the embodiment of Big Sky spirit — an acrobatic grizzly bear who has energized Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz fans since 1993. He has won the Capital One Mascot of the Year award twice, cementing his status as one of the premier small-school mascots in the country. His 2024 Hall of Fame induction was notable as a rare honor for a non-Power Five school.
Fun Facts
- Monte made headlines at the 2025 NCAA Tournament when he performed for a national TV audience as the Montana Grizzlies faced Wisconsin — a rare moment of national spotlight for Montana Athletics.
- Montana’s mascot name ‘Monte’ is short for Montana, honoring both the Grizzlies’ home state and the school’s proud Western identity.
- Monte was inducted alongside Jaxson de Ville, Lou Seal, and Orbit in the Class of 2024 — making him the only non-Power Five mascot in that year’s class and one of only a handful in the entire Hall.
