GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines head football coach Brandon Moore has resigned to accept the head coaching position at the University of San Diego. 

Offensive coordinator Pete Sterbick has been named the Orediggers' interim head coach, leading a program coming off its first national championship game appearance and four consecutive RMAC championships.

"I am very happy for Brandon and his family. Mines is proud of all he has accomplished during his seven years as an Oredigger. We wish him all the best," said Director of Athletics David Hansburg. "Our mission remains the same: to win a national championship. Pete Sterbick, who has been an exceptional offensive coordinator for our program, has already taken over the reins as interim head coach. We will move quickly to solidify our staff and look forward to a great spring game on Saturday."

The 2022 AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year, Moore led Mines to the national championship game in his first season at the helm of the program after being promoted from defensive coordinator in January 2022. Mines won 13 consecutive games between September and December to get to the national final, winning the program's second consecutive NCAA Super Region IV title and fourth consecutive RMAC championship along the way. Going 13-3, the Orediggers set a program record for wins and they completed just the third undefeated RMAC season (9-0) in the modern era. 

First as linebackers coach and later as defensive coordinator, Moore molded Mines' defense into one of the nation's elite units and was part of five RMAC championship teams at Mines (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022), coaching 64 all-RMAC players either positionally or as head coach.

"Thank you Colorado School of Mines," Moore said. "Mines is a truly special place full of special people. I can't express how proud I am to have been a part of it. My family and I have made the decision to move on and accept an opportunity at the University of San Diego. I can't say enough about the family I will be leaving behind, the Mines community will always be special to me."

Sterbick takes over the program as interim head coach coming off his own well-awarded 2022 season that saw him be named the FootballScoop D-II Coordinator of the Year. Arriving at Mines as the OC in January 2019, Sterbick has perfected one of the nation's most explosive and versatile offenses, and has mentored the development of quarterback John Matocha from a true freshman starter in 2019 to Harlon Hill Award winner in 2022. This past season, Mines had 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 was the consensus national player of the year 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.

"I am excited to be able to lead this program, but ultimately Mines Football is about our players and keeping them rolling on the same track," Sterbick said. "Our goal doesn't change: we will keep pushing for a national title."

Sterbick has been a head coach before, at McPherson College in 2012 and 2013, and has been a coordinator or assistant at Montana Tech, Grand View, Washington State, North Dakota, and Missouri Western. He is a graduate of Augustana (S.D.) where he was a wide receiver and punter, and also holds a master's degree from Washington State.