BUTTE — Montana Tech offensive coordinator Pete Sterbick is leaving the Orediggers for the same position at Division II Colorado School of Mines, according to www.footballscoop.com.
CSM has yet to announce Sterbick’s addition and coach Gregg Brandon couldn’t be reached for comment, but MTN Sports has confirmed Sterbick’s departure from Tech. Head coach Chuck Morrell couldn’t confirm Sterbick’s hiring at Mines, but he did provide a statement to MTN Sports.
“We wish Coach Sterbick the best and appreciate all that he has done at Montana Tech,” Morrell wrote. “We will be working to fill the position quickly.”
Sterbick joined the Diggers in 2014, moving to Butte from McPherson College, where he was the head coach and offensive coordinator. During his five seasons on staff, Tech compiled a 32-22 record, posting 10-2 seasons in 2015 and 2016.
In 2015, Tech led the Frontier Conference in rushing yards (3,302) and rushing yards per game (275.2) and was second in total offense per game (445.8) and points per game (33.2) under Sterbick’s guidance. The Diggers’ rushing attack, led by running back Nolan Saraceni, also ranked fifth nationally in rushing yards and sixth in rushing yards per game. Saraceni finished with 1,683 rushing yards and was named the Frontier Conference offensive player of the year and was a first-team all-American.
In 2016, Sterbick led Tech’s offense to another banner year. The Diggers led the Frontier in scoring offense (446 points), scoring per game (37.2), passing efficiency (160.1) and third-down percentage (47.9), breaking school records for passing yards in a season (3,336) and total offense in a game (679 yards against MSU-Northern). Saraceni was again named the league’s offensive MVP and earned all-American recognition.
In 2017, the Oredigger offense led the Frontier in scoring offense per game (43.4), total offense per game (543.8) and first downs per game (28.5), ranking fourth nationally in scoring offense per game and total offense per game and second in first downs per game. Tech gained an NAIA-record 932 yards in a 93-19 win over MSU-Northern that season. Jed Fike led the Frontier with 139.1 yards per game.
Fike again led the league in rushing in 2018, averaging 134 yards per game, giving Tech the league’s leading rusher four consecutive seasons.
Sterbick will reportedly replace Nick Fulton at the Colorado School of Mines. Fulton, who was CSM’s offensive coordinator since 2015, was named the offensive coordinator at Northern Colorado in December. He helped CSM to the top offense in Division II football in 2016 and 2018. Mines went 35-12 during Fulton’s tenure at offensive coordinator, including a 10-2 mark this past fall.
Brandon has been the head coach at CSM since 2015, taking over the program after Bob Stitt left to become the head coach at the University of Montana.
