Rob Stanton was named head coach of the Dickinson State men's and women's track and field programs in August 2026, returning to his alma mater after more than three decades as an educator and coach.
Stanton brings an extensive championship background to the Blue Hawks after a lengthy tenure at Billings West High School in Montana. He served as the school's head boys and girls track and field coach from 2002-25, leading the Golden Bears to seven boys state championships and two girls state titles. His teams earned 24 top-three finishes at the state meet during his tenure.
Stanton earned multiple Montana Coaches Association Boys and Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year honors and was a National High School Athletic Coaches Association Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year finalist in 2019. He was inducted into the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020.
In addition to his success in track and field, Stanton served as the head football coach at Billings West beginning in 2015. He guided the Golden Bears to the 2018 Montana Class AA state championship along with multiple state championship game appearances and was named the Montana Class AA Football Coach of the Year in 2018. Before joining Billings West, Stanton spent nine years in the Miles City School District as an educator and coach.
Stanton was also a standout student-athlete at Dickinson State. He played running back for the Blue Hawks from 1988-91 and earned NAIA All-America honors in 1990 and 1991. Stanton finished his career with 3,758 rushing yards, which ranks second in program history, and 33 rushing touchdowns, which ranks third. He also holds the Dickinson State single-game record with five rushing touchdowns against Valley City State in 1990.
Stanton was inducted into the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
He earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences and health enhancement from Dickinson State in 1993 and a master's degree in school administration from Montana State University in 2000.
