From President Tom Trebon to incoming freshmen, Carroll College let out a sigh of relief Friday morning with the announcement that head football coach Mike Van Diest has removed his name from the running for the top job at Montana State University.

Van Diest made the decision late Thursday night, calling Carroll Athletic Director Bruce Parker and MSU's athletic director, Peter Fields, to let them know about his decision.

Van Diest put his name in the running for the position three weeks ago after it was announced that former head coach Mike Kramer had been fired when a former player had been indicted in a drug scandal. It was the fourth arrest made in Kramer's tenure involving student-athletes and coaches.

The circumstances didn't deter Van Diest. The Saints coach said he was proud to be among a list of four top candidates for the position with the Bobcats, but felt he had a commitment to Carroll and its student-athletes that warranted his stay.

"The timing as I look at it, at the process over the last three weeks, has really taken a toll on me," Van Diest said. "The players back here still stood in my mind every day as I thought about this job and this opportunity.

"I'm very, very honored to have been a candidate for the position."

The Saints coach said that through the interview process, the meetings with coaches, staff and Bobcat fans he has become even more impressed with MSU and its football program.

"They're going to have a good coach in place and an excellent staff," he said. "If there's a cloud over the program it's just temporary."

For Carroll fans, Van Diest's reassurance means they can focus on retaining the tradition he brought to the school. In his time, the Saints have made the NAIA national tournament seven straight times and won four straight national titles from 2001 to 2005.

"I'm thrilled that Mike has decided to stay with us. His football accomplishments and what he's done for this program speaks for itself," Parker said. "What's even more impressive to me is what type of person he is, his values and his integrity.

"We win lots of football games at Carroll, but more impressively we graduate at a nearly 100 percent rate for our student-athletes."