Stitt returns as Mines’ head football coach

The Orediggers’ former coach is now their new coach, as Bob Stitt has returned as Colorado School of Mines’ head football coach.

Stitt led the team for 15 seasons starting in 2000 and compiled a 108-62 record with the Orediggers, including the team’s first RMAC title in 46 years and its first-ever postseason win.

He left after the 2014 season for an NCAA Division I coaching job. Overall, Stitt is 129-76 as a head coach.

Mines Athletics announced Stitt’s return Feb. 7, and he officially started Feb. 11.

Stitt explained at a Feb. 11 press conference how he didn’t regret leaving Mines in 2014, saying his experiences in Division I helped him become a better coach, but he was thrilled to be back at Mines.

Stitt moved back to Golden about five years ago, but was working outside of coaching and focusing on “being a husband and a dad,” he described.

However, over the last year, he returned to coaching at the high school level, serving as offensive coordinator at Valor Christian High School during the 2024 season.

When Stitt heard Pete Sterbick had resigned as Mines’ head football coach on Jan. 21, he reached out to Director of Athletics David Hansburg to express his interest in rejoining Mines.

“I want to be back in that; that is my life,” he said of coaching. “ … There’s nothing like helping a kid or winning a ballgame and seeing them smile. That’s truly why I got back in.”

Hansburg said, in his mind, Stitt was on “the short list” for the Mines football coaching job. After serious discussions about where the program is now versus when Stitt left in 2014, Hansburg said he was confident Stitt was the right fit for the modern-day program.

“I’m so excited to see what he will do at the new Colorado School of Mines, with the new (Mines) football program,” Hansburg continued.

Before the spring football season kicks off next month, Stitt said he would be focused on getting to know the players, earning their trust, inspiring them and generally building on Mines’ unique football culture.

“Our No. 1 asset is our players,” Stitt said. “ … We (Orediggers) want to be really good next year, and that takes time now.”

The road (back) to Golden

The Tecumseh, Nebraska, native received his bachelor’s degree at Doane and his master’s at Northern Colorado, and had position coaching jobs at both. Before joining Mines in 2000, he was the offensive coordinator at Harvard.

In Golden, Stitt “put Mines on a path to success that it still enjoys today,” Mines Athletics described in a Feb. 7 press release.

Before 2000, the Orediggers only had one winning season in the previous two decades. Since 2007, they’ve had 17 consecutive winning seasons.

Stitt gained a national reputation as an offensive innovator. During his time at Mines, his teams set virtually every program offensive record, including many that still stand.

Stitt described how, when he first coached at Mines, it didn’t have the quality of athletic facilities that it does now. He recalled taking players around campus, trying to find rooms where they could meet for the day. Now, he said, the team has dedicated meeting rooms and top-quality training facilities and resources at Marv Kay Stadium.

Overall, Stitt led Mines to RMAC titles and NCAA postseason appearances in 2004, 2010 and 2014. He received numerous coaching accolades, and dozens of his players were recognized at the conference or national level, including 2004 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Chad Friehauf and 2010 finalist Clay Garcia, during his 15 seasons.

Stitt was inducted into the Mines Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

After the 2014 season, Stitt left Mines to become the head coach at Montana. He coached there three seasons, accumulating a 21-14 overall record, and led the Grizzlies to a 2015 NCAA FCS tournament appearance.

He then was an offensive analyst at Oklahoma State and the offensive coordinator at Texas State before returning to Golden in the private sector.

Hansburg said Stitt was peripherally involved with Mines football, attending games as a fan and stopping by some alumni events. He’s also a Mines parent.

When Stitt first coached Mines, Hansburg said Stitt felt like he had to do everything single-handedly. But now, Hansburg said, “there are a lot of people here who are all-in on Mines football,” starting with Stitt’s six assistant coaches.

A championship at last?

Another thing that’s changed since Stitt’s first tenure, Hansburg said, is Mines’ chances of winning its first national title.

Mines went to back-to-back NCAA Division II championship games in 2022 and 2023.

Stitt said, when he was here in 2000-14, he didn’t think Mines could compete with the best teams in the country. Now, he knows it can and wants to help it maintain its recent level of success and help the Orediggers achieve their long-held dream.

As Stitt summarized: He doesn’t need to rebuild the program, but simply keep it on the tracks.

The road to the 2025 title game starts with the upcoming spring football season, which typically kicks off in March.

While Mines Athletics hadn’t announced the dates as of Feb. 11, the spring season typically involves several weeks of practices and then a spring game, which is an intrasquad scrimmage. These practices and the spring game will be open to the public.

The Orediggers kick off their 2025 season Sept. 4 at West Texas A&M. For additional information, visit MinesAthletics.com.

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