A national search will be conducted to select Stutzriem’s replacement, per the Rocky news release.
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BILLINGS — Chris Stutzriem has resigned as head coach of the Rocky Mountain College football team.
Per a press release announcing the news, Stutzriem is leaving for another coaching opportunity.
Stutzriem confirmed his departure via a statement he posted on his X account on Friday night.
“I want to thank Rocky Mountain College and the entire Billings community for their love and support during my time as the head football coach at Rocky,” Stutzriem said in the statement. “I am especially grateful to president Bob Wilmouth, provost Anthony Piltz and the rest of (the) Rocky administration for believing in a 28-year-old to lead an amazing program and their unwavering support throughout the last seven years.
“I would also like to thank former AD Jeff Malby for hiring me and his tutelage and Jim Klemann for his help and leadership.”
In his seven seasons, Stutzriem posted a 30-35 overall record after being hired in 2018. He led the Battlin’ Bears to a share of the Frontier Conference title in 2021 by going 7-3 and earned the 2021 Frontier Conference Coach of the Year award.
This past season, Rocky finished 4-6 overall and 4-2 in the Frontier Conference East Division, good for third place in the division.
Stutzriem was an offensive coordinator for the Battlin’ Bears from 2016-17 and an offensive line coach at NCAA Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in 2018 before taking over the program from Jason Petrino, who left for an assistant coaching job at Division I FCS Southern Illinois University. Stutzriem was also a finalist for the head football coach position at Division II Minot State University (North Dakota) in 2023.
Offensive Coordinator Teague Blome has been tagged as the interim head coach the RMC press release stated.
A national search will be conducted to select Stutzriem’s replacement, per the Rocky news release.
“We are grateful to coach Stutzriem for the good work he has done for the students of Rocky Mountain College,” Rocky president Dr. Bob Wilmouth said in the school news release. “We wish him the best in his new role.”
This is also now the second head coach vacancy for the Battlin’ Bears. RMC announced a leadership change for its volleyball program in November after the Battlin’ Bears went 3-25 (2-20 Frontier Conference) in 2025.
The vacancies will have to be filled by new Rocky athletic director in Kelly Perry. Perry, who was hired in November to fill a vacancy left by former Battlin’ Bears AD Jim Klemann, is set to be on campus in early January.