Home of the Dickinson State Blue Hawks

Pete Stanton enters his 13th season as head football coach at Dickinson State in 2026 and his 27th overall with the Blue Hawk program. Stanton was named the 15th head coach in program history in December 2013 after spending 14 seasons as an assistant at Dickinson State.

Stanton ranks second in Dickinson State history with 98 career wins as head coach, compiling a 98-36 record over his first 12 seasons.

From 2015-24, Stanton led the Blue Hawks to 10 consecutive North Star Athletic Association championships and 10 straight appearances in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The run included several notable postseason and program accomplishments:

• 2018: Advanced to the NAIA quarterfinals and earned the program's first road playoff victory.

• 2019: Became the first team in program history to win five consecutive conference championships.

• 2020: Completed an undefeated regular season, the sixth in program history.

• 2023: Defeated Montana Tech 35-27 on the road in the NAIA Football Championship Series.

• 2024: Defeated Kansas Wesleyan 28-21 for Dickinson State's first home NAIA playoff victory during the championship run.

The Blue Hawks transitioned to the Frontier Conference in 2025.

During his tenure as head coach, Stanton has coached 22 NAIA All-Americans and earned North Star Athletic Association Coach of the Year honors nine times, receiving the award in 2015, 2016, 2017 and each season from 2019-24. The Dickinson State football program was also named the North Dakota Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association College Team of the Year in 2023.

A native of Baker, Montana, Stanton began his head coaching career at the high school level. He spent nine seasons as head coach at Terry High School, compiling a 70-20 record and leading the program to the playoffs each season, including three appearances in the state championship game. He later served as head coach at Belgrade High School before joining Dickinson State in 2000. Stanton enters the 2026 season with a combined high school and collegiate head coaching record of 175-63.

Stanton is also a Dickinson State alumnus and former Blue Hawk football standout. A three-year starter at safety, he helped Dickinson State post a 25-4 record and make two NAIA playoff appearances during his playing career. Stanton earned first-team NAIA All-America and Academic All-America honors in 1987 and was a two-time all-conference and all-district selection. He was also named the Harry J. Wienbergen Male Athlete of the Year as a senior.

Stanton was inducted into the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

In addition to his football career, Stanton built an accomplished tenure as Dickinson State's head men's and women's track and field coach. He led the Blue Hawk men to 10 consecutive conference championships from 2003-12 and earned conference Coach of the Year honors 10 times.

Dickinson State captured three consecutive NAIA men's outdoor track and field national championships from 2004-06 under Stanton and finished as national runner-up in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Stanton was named NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Coach of the Year four consecutive times from 2003-06.

His track and field teams have also received recognition from the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2004-06 national championship teams were inducted in 2016, while the 2008 and 2009 teams were inducted in 2023.

Stanton earned a bachelor's degree from Dickinson State and a master's degree in education from Montana State University. In addition to his football duties, he serves as Dickinson State's athletic director.

Stanton and his wife, Candace, live in Dickinson. They have two children, Luke and Maddy.

Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record — Dickinson State Football