BOB STITT
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH - QUARTERBACKS

Bob Stitt returns for his tenth season as the head football coach at Colorado School of Mines in 2009.

During his first nine years, Stitt has guided the Orediggers to a 59-43 overall record, including a 43-31 mark in the RMAC. Stitt’s .578 winning percentage is the highest by a Mines football coach who has coached in at least 20 games and the highest for a modern day coach at CSM.

The Orediggers went 8-4 overall (7-2 RMAC) in 2008 to secure their seventh winning season in eight years. CSM's trip to the 2008 Dixie Rotary Bowl marked the fourth time in program history that Mines had competed in a bowl game. The 2008 Dixie Rotary Bowl also marked the third time in five years that Mines had advanced into the post-season. Ten Orediggers earned All-RMAC honors in 2008, including quarterback David Pesek, who earned First Team All-RMAC honors. Pesek, a two-time RMAC Offensive Player of the Week selection and one-time NFF - Colorado Player of the Week pick in 2008, led the RMAC in total offense (244.2 ypg) and finished second in the RMAC in passing (222.7 ypg), completion % (63.9) and passing yards (2,672). An NFF First Team All-Colorado pick, Pesek also threw for an RMAC-second-best 21 touchdowns in 2008.

Mines compiled a 7-5 overall mark (6-2 RMAC) and earned a berth in the Dixie Rotary Bowl in 2007. CSM landed 14 All-RMAC selections and two All-Region picks in 2007 while six players earned recognition on the NFF's All-Colorado Teams. Furthermore, Derek Dykstra was selected to participate in the Valero Cactus Bowl (NCAA Division II football all-star game).

In 2006, the Orediggers (4-7 overall, 2-6 RMAC) had 12 All-RMAC, five All-Region and seven NFF All-Colorado selections. Michael Curl earned Honorable Mention All-American honors and Bryan Florendo, who became the first Oredigger to rush for 1,000 yards (1,018) since 1939, was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year on the NFF's All-Colorado Team.

The Orediggers' 6-5 overall record in 2005 gave CSM its fifth consecutive winning season, marking the first time that had happened in the 118-year history of the program. Mines placed 13 players on the All-RMAC teams while three earned All-Region recognition.

In 2004, Stitt led the Orediggers to the best season in school history as the team went undefeated (8-0) in conference play and captured its first RMAC title since 1958. In addition, the 2004 squad posted a perfect 11-0 mark in the regular season and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history. In the opening round, Stitt led CSM to a 52-33 home victory over Midwestern State University. Mines was defeated in the second round of the playoffs at top-ranked Pittsburg State - the eventual national runner-up - to end its season and also snap a school-record 14-game winning streak, which was the second longest in Division II at the time. The record-setting 2004 season helped earn Stitt RMAC Coach of the Year, Division II AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year and d2football.com Southwest Regional Coach of the Year accolades.

Furthermore, Stitt was instrumental in helping senior quarterback Chad Friehauf win the 19th Annual Harlon Hill Trophy in 2004 as the top player in NCAA Division II. Friehauf, who established an NCAA Division II single-season record for passing yards (4,646) in 2004, became the first player from CSM and the RMAC to win the Harlon Hill Trophy. A total of 18 Orediggers earned both All-RMAC and NFF All-Colorado honors in 2004, while six players brought home All-Region laurels. Three players also went on to garner All-American recognition, including Friehauf, Daniel Leger and Justin Gallas.

During his second and third seasons at Mines (2001 and 2002), Stitt guided the Orediggers to back-to-back 7-4 finishes. The seven wins in 2001, which marked the first winning season for Mines since 1991 (6-4), were the most by the Orediggers since 1958. The 2001 and 2002 seasons also marked the first time since 1975 and 1976 that the CSM football team had produced consecutive winning years.

During his tenure at CSM, Stitt has coached a grand total of 103 All-RMAC performers, 25 All-Region selections and five All-Americans.

Before coming to Colorado School of Mines, Stitt most recently served as an offensive coordinator at Harvard University, helping the Crimson set school records in total offense in a game (640 yards), passing yards in a game (405), first downs in a game (34) and points scored in an Ivy League game (63). Stitt’s 1999 offense ranked first among Ivy League teams in rushing, third in scoring and fourth in total offense.

A graduate of Doane College (Nebraska), Stitt received various accolades as a running back and a return specialist - including All-State College Offensive Player of the Year in 1985 - when he played for the Tigers in the mid-80’s. Stitt also played left field for the Doane baseball squad and competed in the 4x100m relay on the track & field team.

Stitt returned to coach at his alma mater after receiving his master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1989. The offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for four years at Doane, Stitt produced three NAIA Division II All-Americans and 19 All-NIAC offensive players during his tenure. Stitt went on to coach at Austin College (Texas) from 1994 to 1999, serving as the assistant head coach and the coordinator of offense and special teams, before he moved on to Harvard.

A native of Tecumseh, Nebraska, Stitt lettered in football, basketball, track & field and baseball at Tecumseh High School. Stitt and his wife, the former Joan Scherrer, reside in Arvada with their sons, Joe (10) and Sam (5).