$1.2 million Digger Green Athletic Endowment established to support student-athletes at Montana Technological University

Photo:Brianna O’Mara

Montana Technological University, the Montana Tech Foundation, and Oredigger Athletics proudly announced the establishment of the Digger Green Athletic Endowment during the Copper Game on August 28, 2025.

The $1.2 million endowment will generate $48,000 in new annual scholarship support to Montana Tech student-athletes.

“Coach Green was far more than just a coach,” Montana Tech Athletic Director Matt Stepan said. “He built belief, inspired character, and left a legacy that generations of Orediggers will carry forward. The Digger Green Athletic Endowment is a powerful tribute to that legacy and a game-changer for our student-athletes. Launching this campaign with more than $1 million already committed reflects both the incredible loyalty of our supporters and the vision and determination of Eric Jacobsen, who was truly the driving force behind the creation of this endowment. We are deeply grateful to Eric and Christi Jacobsen, and to each of the generous founding members who helped bring this endowment to life. As we enter the next phase of this initiative, we invite the entire Digger family to help shape the future of Montana Tech Athletics.”

The endowment honors the contributions of legendary former Montana Tech football coach Bob Green. Green led the Orediggers from 1987 to 2010, becoming the winningest coach in school history and guiding the team to five NAIA playoff appearances and a national championship game. A Vietnam War veteran and beloved local personality, Green is also known worldwide for his colorful quotes and viral videos.

“I’m thrilled to see the Digger Green Athletic Endowment (DGAE) established in honor of our friend and legendary coach, Bob Green,” Montana Tech Foundation Vice President of Development Luke Meyer said. “Coach Green has positively impacted hundreds of lives, including my own, and this scholarship endowment ensures his legacy will live on to benefit countless generations of Oredigger athletes. We’ve made good progress toward our $2 million 2025 goal, but need to keep our foot on the gas pedal with an ultimate goal of $5 million raised for the DGAE. Many thanks to Eric and Christi Jacobsen for leading this effort and for the generous support of current founders and future founders to come.”

Founding members of the Digger Green Athletic Endowment contributed between $100,000 and $250,000. They include:

• Eric and Christi Jacobsen
• Paul and Andrea Hladky
• Chuck and Wendy Forgey
• Jacob and Jana Streitz
• Derek Kraus
• Justin Balkenbush
• Bryan and Kim Larson
• Dave and Sherry Lesar
• Susan Hladky

“The initial founding donors are thrilled to launch the Digger Green Athletic Endowment, with much more to come,” Eric Jacobsen said. “We all have such loyalty and a heartfelt connection to Montana Tech, we wish to afford Tech student-athletes scholarship opportunities for years and decades to come, and we are elated to honor Coach Green – a generational talent and Digger icon forever.”

The Digger Green Athletic Endowment will support Montana Tech athletes in football, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, which are collegiate sports that Coach Green oversaw while in his role as athletic director.

The Orediggers compete in the NAIA Frontier Conference. In spring 2025, Montana Tech captured the 2024-25 Frontier Conference Bandy Memorial All-Sports Award for a third straight year. The Orediggers have won the award seven times in program history. The Bandy Award is presented each year to the conference school that has accumulated the most points based on its regular season finish in football, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, and men and women’s outdoor track & field. 

For more information or to contribute to the Digger Green Athletic Endowment contact the Montana Tech Foundation at (406) 496-4276 or visit https://foundation.mtech.edu/give/index.html.