Dan Thatcher, a Butte Central product, returned to his hometown in February of 2020 to join the Orediggers as the offensive line coach.
Thatcher added run game coordinator to his duties in the spring of 2024. In his time coaching the Oredigger offensive line, the Digger offense has averaged over 30 points per game since the 2022 season. The Tech offense was also top 10 in the country in red zone scoring, third-down percentage, and yards per completion in that time. The Digger offense led the Frontier Conference in fewest sacks allowed both seasons.
In his time back home in the Mining City, Thatcher has mentored and coached five All-Frontier Conference players since the 2021 season. The Oredigger offensive line has helped pave the way in the run game the past two seasons averaging over 160 rushing yards per game and just shy of 5 yards per carry. The Diggers have had back-to-back seven-win seasons and made the NAIA playoffs in 2023 for the first time in seven years.
Before coming to Tech, Thatcher spent six years teaching and coaching in the Bozeman School District. He was an assistant football and basketball coach at Bozeman High School, working for Levi Wesche and Wes Holmquist. His Hawks won MHSA Class AA championships in both sports in 2019-20.
Thatcher comes from a long coaching and athletic background, with most of his family still living here in Butte.
