Montana Tech adds assistant

Montana Tech new head men’s basketball coach Patrick O’Herron named his assistant head coach. Anaconda native Chris Stetzner is the assistant coach for the men’s basketball program.

“Chris brings a wealth of knowledge about Montana Tech’s academic programs and he has an extensive basketball coaching background,” said head coach O’Herron.

Stetzner, who was an assistant coach under Aaron Woliczko, has been with the program the past two seasons. With the Orediggers, Stetzner headed the film exchange program and assisted with camps and recruiting. He began his coaching career with the U.S. Air Force team that included United States Air Force Europe (USAFE) for three years. The next seven years, Stetzner compiled a 112-38 record coaching at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. After leaving the military, he spent five years coaching at Anaconda High School finishing with a 66-34 record.

“Having worked with Aaron and Pat for the last two years has been a very humbling and rewarding experience,” said Stetzner. “I have learned a tremendous amount of knowledge from each of them and I am proud to continue on and be a part of a successful program here at Montana Tech. I am grateful for Coach O’Herron to have hired me as the assistant coach. I look forward to working with Patrick and the men’s program and aiding in their success as we move forward with the program.”

Currently, Stetzner is working toward his Masters in Sports Management and was formally employed with Institute for Educational Opportunities for the Technical Outreach Program, before taking on the roll as the new assistant coach.

As an ETS coordinator we would identify and assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to postsecondary education.

“I am very grateful for Amy Verlanic, and her staff who hired me,” said Stetzner. “I have the upmost respect for her and I am thankful to have been a part of such a wonderful program over the last three years. It was wonderful to experience and have a major impact on a program that aims to help students succeed, graduate and move on, into a post-secondary education and be productive in today’s society.”

Coach Stetzner’s wife, Wendy, is a 2005 graduate from Montana Tech. They have four children, Timothy, Collin, Kadin and Logan.

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