Chad Friehauf, one of the most celebrated student-athletes in recent years at Colorado School of Mines, returned to the Oredigger men's basketball on Dec. 15, as announced Dec. 12 by CSM Head Coach
Pryor Orser.
A 6'5", 210-lb. senior forward who hails from Brush, Colo. (Brush High School), Friehauf has returned to CSM to pursue an undergraduate degree in Economics and Business.
Friehauf, who earned his first undergraduate degree (Civil Engineering) from Mines in 2005, redshirted as a true freshman on the CSM men's basketball team in 2001-02 before going on to letter in his only season of competition on the hardwood the following winter. In 28 games played in 2002-03, Friehauf averaged 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.5 steals as a redshirt freshman.
The most prolific quarterback in the history of Mines football, Friehauf won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in all of NCAA Division II college football following his senior season in 2004. Friehauf, who played football at Mines from 2001-04, established NCAA Division II single-season records for completion percentage (74.4%), passing yards (4,646), total offense (5,363) and total offensive yards per game (412.5) in 2004. Friehauf also had 144 carries for 717 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and 15 touchdowns while establishing single-season school records for pass attempts (516), pass completions (384) and touchdown passes (39) during his senior year. Friehauf guided Mines to an 11-0 regular-season record, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championship and the first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance in program history during the 2004 campaign.
Friehauf finished his career at Mines as the school's all-time leader in pass attempts (1,183), pass completions (773), passing yards (9,873) and touchdown passes (84). As a starter, Friehauf compiled a 22-8 win-loss record (.733) in 30 career starts. In addition to winning the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2004, Friehauf earned RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-RMAC, Colorado Male Athlete of the Year and National Football Foundation - Colorado Chapter Player of the Year honors. Friehauf also earned First Team All-American accolades from the AFCA, d2football.com, Dopke.com and Don Hansen's National Football Gazette. A Second Team All-American pick on the Associated Press Little All-American Team in 2004, Friehauf signed a free agent contract with the National Football League's Denver Broncos in the summer of 2005.
Friehauf appeared in one pre-season game for the Broncos (vs. the San Francisco 49ers) in 2005 before being released. In the spring of 2006, Friehauf participated in training camp for the now-defunct Rhein Fire of NFL Europa. Friehauf then played for the CenTex Barracudas (Belton, Texas) of the Intense Football League (IFL) in the summer of 2006. Friehauf continued his career in the IFL with the Odessa Roughnecks (Odessa, Texas) the following spring before joining the practice roster of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders (Regina, Saskatchewan) in April of 2007.
The Orediggers will play at New Mexico Highlands University on December 14th, and at Western New Mexico University then play Minnesota - Duluth on December 28th, at 5:00 p.m. at Metro State (Auraria Events Center) before hosting the Mines Holiday Classic at Lockridge Arena the following evening. Minnesota - Duluth will square off against Metro State in the early game (6:00 p.m.) on December 29th, followed by St. Gregory's University at CSM at 8:00 p.m.
Jeff Duggan, CSM athletics information officer