Stitt is it for Griz

MISSOULA (AP) — Bob Stitt will become the new head coach at Montana, making the jump from Division II to the FCS.

Montana picked Stitt, who has been the head coach at the Colorado School of Mines the past 15 seasons, to replace Mick Delaney, who is retiring. Montana athletic director Kent Haslam made the announcement Tuesday.

Stitt compiled an overall record of 108-62 at the Colorado School of Mines. His team finished the 2014 season with a 10-2 record and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs, where the Orediggers lost in the first round.

Montana is an FCS school and is a member of the Big Sky Conference. The Grizzlies lost to Eastern Washington last Saturday in the second round of the playoffs, ending their season with a 9-5 record.

The 50-year-old Stitt will be formally introduced Friday in Missoula.

His hiring is pending approval from Montana's Board of Regents.

Stitt is a 1987 graduate of Doane College in Nebraska, where he played running back from 1982-86 and competed in baseball and track.

Stitt was an offensive coordinator at Harvard before taking the coaching job in Colorado.

He previously was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for four years at Doane and assistant head coach and offensive and special teams coordinator at Austin College in Texas.

Delaney was head coach at Montana the last three years and compiled a record of 24-14.

"We're excited to have him here and excited to get him going," Haslam said. "I'm excited for what he brings and I'm excited for the type of person he is."

Stitt, who it is speculated was chosen over former Griz head coach Bobby Hauck, will be formally introduced at a press conference Friday in Missoula.