Matt Stepan again named Frontier Conference Athletic Director of the Year

The Montana Tech Orediggers have been reaching heights not seen before in practically every aspect of their athletic programs.  From basketball, football and volleyball to their recently added track and field and cross country programs, the Orediggers continue to win as individual teams and to collectively grow as a program well.  These types of achievements are not done without solid leadership at the very top and again this year, Montana Tech's Matt Stepan has been named the Frontier Conference Athletic Director of the Year.  The following is from the Montana Tech Sports Information Department:

HELENA, Mont. -- For the second-straight year, Montana Tech athletic director Matt Stepan won the Frontier Conference's Athletics Director of the Year award, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.

Stepan, a 2004 graduate of Montana Tech, led the Oredigger athletic programs to another fantastic year in 2024-25, leading to a third-straight George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Champion award as the top school in the Frontier Conference.

Tech won conference titles in women's cross country, men's basketball, and women's track & field, and 10 of the 12 Oredigger sports represented the institution at NAIA national competition.

"I'm honored and humbled to be recognized as the Frontier Conference Athletics Director of the Year, especially knowing this recognition comes from my peers across the league," Stepan said. "This award is truly owed to our student-athletes, whose accomplishments, character, and competitive spirit inspire everything we do.

"It also reflects the incredible team I have the privilege to work alongside every day serving our student-athletes and supporting their growth on and off the field, court, course, and track."

A Butte native, Stepan starred for the Oredigger football team as a two-time All-Frontier linebacker. He won the prestigious Ed Simonich Award in 2004, given to the football player who represents what it means to be an Oredigger both on and off the field.

He returned to Montana Tech in 2014 as external associate athletic director and was named the AD in September 2017. In the time since, Montana Tech's athletic programs have transformed into conference and national powers, winning 18 Frontier championships, making 23 NAIA national tournament appearances, and boasting 291 NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes in those eight years.

Stepan's tenure has also been defined by growth. Montana Tech added men's and women's cross country to its list of sport offerings in 2020 and men's and women's track & field the following year.

Beyond Butte, Stepan's leadership shows as the Frontier Conference Chair for the NAIA Council of Athletics Directors. He has also served as the conference's football chair and  representative on both the NAIA National Administrative Council and the NAIA Athletics Directors Association.

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