Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame
Stein played quarterback for teams coached by his father, Dick Stein, at Chadron High School, but played tight end at Chadron State in the late 1980s. During his four years at CSC, he caught 107 passes for 1,281 yards (12.0 average) and 14 touchdowns. That tied him with Hall of Famer Dean Palser as the all-time reception leader among CSC tight ends. Stein also was known as an exceptional blocker, held for the placekickers and snapped for punts.
The “big” play of his career was in the regular season finale at Mitchell, S.D., during his senior year in 1989, when the Eagles edged Dakota Wesleyan 38-34. Stein caught the winning touchdown pass from quarterback Steward Perez on about the 10-yard line and carried two Tigers into the end zone for the winning touchdown with 90 seconds to play. The Eagles needed that victory to qualify for the NAIA playoffs. Stein finished that game with nine receptions for 112 yards.
Stein was named to the Omaha World-Herald’s all-state team and also received honorable mention NAIA All-American his senior year. He was coaching the Wyoming Cavalry of the National Indoor Football League when he resigned to become a full-time member of the Chadron State football coaching staff in January 2005. He is now the Eagles’ offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. He and his wife, the former Nancy Nitsch of Chadron, have five children.
