Recruiting Areas: Quarterbacks from any area
The 2022 FootballScoop D-II Coordinator of the Year, 2023 AFCA Regional Head Coach of the Year, and 2023 NFFCC Colorado Coach of the Year, Pete Sterbick was named offensive coordinator at Mines in January 2019 and promoted to head coach on May 3, 2023.
Sterbick's first season at the helm of the Oredigger program in 2023 was historic as Mines made it second consecutive appearance in the national title game, won a fifth consecutive RMAC title, and a third straight NCAA regional crown. Mines set the program record for wins going 14-1 and earned the most all-Americans in program history with eight Orediggers being recognized. Mines' offense continued to put up big numbers under Sterbick with 46.5 points and 508.7 yards per game as John Matocha, the Harlon Hill Award runner-up, became college football's all-time leader in passing and total touchdowns during the season. Receiver Max McLeod broke the program records for receptions and receiving yards, and tackle Levi Johnson became the first player in Mines history to win the Gene Upshaw Award as D-II's lineman of the year. The Orediggers' 14-game win streak set a school record, and the team set records for yards in a season (7,630) and first downs (387).
The 2022 season saw Sterbick earn national coordinator of the year honors as Mines advance to the NCAA championship game for the first time behind a prolific offense that led the nation in scoring (44.6 ppg) and red zone offense (97%) while ranking top-10 nationally in total offense, passing offense, fourth down conversion percentage, and turnover margin. Matocha captured the Harlon Hill Award in addition to national offensive player of the year honors from both the D2CCA and D2football.com, while center Matt Armendariz and wide receiver Max McLeod also earned all-America honors on offense. Running back Michael Zeman continued to break records as he became Colorado's all-time scoring leader and Mines' undisputed rushing leader, and Mines was one of just a handful of schools at any level of college football with both two 1,000-yard receivers in Josh Johnston and McLeod, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Zeman.
In 2021, the Orediggers' balanced and efficient attack helped them win another RMAC title and make the program's first trip to the NCAA semifinals. Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Michael Zeman led the way with 1,608 rushing yards and a national-best 26 total touchdowns, while all-American quarterback John Matocha continued to thrive as one of the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks throwing for 3,105 yards and 38 touchdowns in the air while rushing for seven scores as well. Nationally, Mines ranked second in passing efficiency, fourth in turnover margin (giving it away just 14 times), and 11th in scoring offense.
Sterbick's first season in charge of the Orediggers' offense in 2019 was filled with superlatives as Mines had one of the nation's best and most balanced offenses. The Orediggers ran for a program-record 3,269 yards and averaged 488.2 yards per game behind running backs Cameron Mayberry and Michael Zeman; Zeman ran for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns. True freshman quarterback John Matocha emerged as one of the nation's best dual-threat signal callers, throwing for 2,825 yards and 29 touchdowns on an impressive 73.7 percent completion percentage, while also running for 11 touchdowns and 598 yards. In NCAA Division II, Mines ranked fourth in first downs, 11th in total offense, 13th in rushing offense, and 14th in scoring offense in 2019.
At Montana Tech from 2014 to 2018, Sterbick helped them to a 31-13 record over four seasons, including two Frontier Conference titles and appearances in the 2015 and 2016 NAIA national quarterfinals. His offenses broke more than 30 school records while averaging 458.3 yards and 35 points per game between 2015 and 2018. His top unit was in 2017, when Montana Tech averaged 543.8 yards per game (with a balance of 343.8 pass/200.0 rush) and 43.4 points per game, while also setting the NAIA national record for total offense in a game with 932 yards that season.
Sterbick has deep experience at multiple levels of football prior to Montana Tech. In 2012 and 2013 he was the head coach and offensive coordinator at McPherson College, where the Bulldogs ranked in the NAIA top-30 in passing offense both seasons. Prior to that he was offensive coordinator at Grand View University from 2008 to 2011, helping that program start up from scratch and achieve a 22-11 record over three seasons including a 2011 conference championship in the team's third year of official play.
Sterbick also has extensive experience in NCAA Divisions I and II including a role as the offensive graduate assistant at Washington State from 2005-07, the same role at North Dakota in 2004-05, and wide receivers coach at Missouri Western in 2003-04. Sterbick was a wide receiver and punter for Augustana (S.D.) from 1998-2002, receiving his degree in physical education in 2003. He also has a master's in higher education administration from Washington State.
