<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.33

                            [NORTH COAST LETTERHEAD]

                 FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL PROTECTION AGREEMENT


                                                                  March 21, 2003


Dale E. Stitt


Dear Dale:

North Coast Energy, Inc. (the "Company") recognizes that the possibility of a
change in control with respect to the Company may exist and that such
possibility, and the uncertainty and distraction such situations raise among key
employees, may work to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued
attention and dedication of key employees, including yourself, to their assigned
duties without the distraction arising from the possibility of a change in
control of the Company.

In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company until the
termination of your employment in conjunction with a "change in control" (as
defined in Section 2 hereof), and to encourage you to do your best to facilitate
the sale of the Company, this letter agreement ("Agreement") sets forth the
severance benefits which this Company agrees will be provided to you in the
event your employment with the Company is terminated within the period specified
in Section 4 hereof immediately following any change in control either by you
for "Good Reason" or by the Company "Without Cause" (both as defined in Section
3 hereof). In the event that a change in control does not occur, your severance
benefits, if any, shall be determined without regard to this Agreement.

Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prevent either you or the Company
from terminating your employment at any time, for cause or otherwise, subject
only to the specific payment and other provisions hereinafter provided for under
certain circumstances in the event a change in control shall have occurred prior
to the date your termination becomes effective. Unless you have a written
employment agreement with the Company, you hereby specifically acknowledge that,
as of the date of effectiveness of this Agreement, your employment by the
Company is employment-at-will, subject to termination by you or by the Company
at any time with or without cause.

1.       CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions
         of this Agreement, this confirms that you have advised the Company
         that, in consideration of, among other things, the Company's entering
         into this Agreement with you, it is your present intention to remain in
         the employ of the Company, in the position and with



<PAGE>

         substantially the same duties and responsibilities that you currently
         have, or in a position and with such duties as the Company and you may
         hereafter mutually agree in writing, unless and until there occurs a
         change in control of the Company.

2.       CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "Change in Control" of the Company will be deemed
         to occur if at any time after the date of this Agreement:

         (a) The Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into another
         corporation or entity or nv NUON (or any successor of nv NUON) or an
         affiliate thereof (collectively "NUON") sells or otherwise transfers
         all or part of the outstanding voting securities it holds in the
         Company and as a result thereof immediately after such transaction an
         entity or a group of entities acting in concert holds greater ownership
         than NUON of the corporation or entity surviving after such merger,
         consolidation, reorganization or sale of securities, or

         (b) The Company sells or otherwise transfers all or substantially all
         of its assets to another corporation or entity and as a result thereof
         immediately after such transaction an entity or a group of entities
         acting in concert holds greater ownership than NUON of the corporation
         or entity purchasing such assets.

The first date upon which a Change in Control as defined above takes place shall
be known as the "Effective Date."

3.       TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Your employment with the Company shall or
         may be terminated, as the case may be, for any of the following
         reasons:

         (a) Death. Termination of your employment with the Company due to your
         death;

         (b) Retirement. Termination of your employment with the Company at or
         after the attainment of age sixty-five (65);

         (c) Disability. Termination of your employment with the Company either
         by you or the Company, if you become disabled as determined by a
         physician acceptable to you and the Company by reason of physical or
         mental impairment for an aggregate of one hundred eighty (180) days
         (whether business or non-business days and whether or not consecutive)
         during any period of twelve consecutive months to such an extent that
         you are unable to substantially perform your duties of employment with
         the Company on a full-time basis;

         (d) Cause. Termination of your employment with the Company at any time
         for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

             (i) The willful and continued failure by you to perform
             substantially your duties with the Company or one of its affiliates
             (other than for Disability or Good Reason), after a written demand
             for substantial performance is delivered to you by the Board or the
             Chief Executive Officer of the Company which specifically
             identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief Executive Officer
             believes that you have not substantially performed your duties;



                                       2
<PAGE>

             (ii) Your willfully engaging in conduct demonstrably and materially
             injurious to the Company; or

             (iii) Conviction of any felony, any crime involving moral
             turpitude, or any crime committed in the conduct of your official
             duties which is materially adverse to the welfare of the Company.

             For purposes of this Section 3(d), no act or failure to act shall
             be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done,
             in bad faith or without your reasonable belief that such act or
             omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or
             failure to act, based upon authority given you pursuant to a
             resolution duly adopted by the Board shall be conclusively presumed
             to be done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and in the best
             interests of the Company. Termination of your employment with the
             Company shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until, in
             the case of any failure on your part in respect of clause (i) or
             (ii) of this Section 3(d), the Board first gives you written notice
             specifying the nature of the failure and the steps that you must
             take to cure any such failure, and you fail to take those steps
             within 30 days after such notice is given and, in the event the
             Board deems such failure not to have been cured, there shall have
             been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the
             affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire
             membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held
             for such purpose (after 30 days' written notice of termination of
             employment is provided to you and you are given an opportunity,
             together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that,
             in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the
             conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying
             the particulars thereof in detail.

         (e) Good Reason. You may terminate your employment with the Company for
         Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:

             (i) The assignment of any duties inconsistent in any material
             respect with your position, authority, duties or responsibilities,
             as such existed prior to the Effective Date, or any other action by
             the Company which results in a diminution in such position,
             authority, duties or responsibilities;

             (ii) Any failure by the Company to continue to provide you with
             Base Compensation (as defined below) or substantially the same
             Employee Benefits (as set forth on Exhibit A hereto) to which you
             were entitled immediately prior to the Effective Date; excluding,
             however, a reduction in your Base Compensation caused by the
             implementation of an across-the-board salary reduction program for
             other similarly situated employees of the Company;

             (iii) The Company's requiring you to be based at or generally work
             from any location other than a location within thirty-five (35)
             miles of the location where you were based or generally worked from
             prior to the Effective Date;



                                       3
<PAGE>

             (iv) Any failure by the Company or any permitted successor to the
             Company hereunder to comply with and satisfy its obligations under
             Section 10 of this Agreement; or

             (v) Any material breach by the Company of provisions of this
             Agreement not heretofore referenced in this Section 3(e).

         (f) Without Cause. The Company may terminate your employment with the
         Company Without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement the
         term "Without Cause" shall mean termination of your employment for
         reasons other than for Death, Retirement, Disability or Cause. Anything
         in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in
         Control occurs and if your employment with the Company was terminated
         prior to the date on which the Change in Control of the Company occurs,
         and such termination (i) was at the request of a third party who had
         taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control of the
         Company or (ii) was by the Company and arose with or in anticipation of
         a Change in Control of the Company, then for all purposes of this
         Agreement your employment shall be deemed to have been terminated by
         the Company Without Cause under this Section 3(f) of this Agreement and
         the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the Date
         of Termination. Furthermore, termination of your employment or removal
         of you from your office or position in the Company prior to a Change in
         Control but following the commencement of any discussion with any third
         person that ultimately results in a Change in Control shall be deemed
         to be a termination or removal of you after a Change in Control for
         purposes of this Agreement.

         (g) Scope of Agreement. Termination of the employment of the employee
         for Cause, by the employee other than for Good Reason, or by reason of
         death, Disability or Retirement of the employee does not result in
         benefits to the employee under the terms of this Agreement, unless and
         to the extent explicitly provided for herein.

Except in the case of Retirement or Death, termination of your employment shall
be effective only as of the earliest date (hereinafter referred to as the "Date
of Termination") specified by either you or the Company in a written notice of
termination ("Notice of Termination") to the other party hereto.

4.       SEVERANCE PAY. If a Change in Control of the Company occurs and within
         two years thereafter your employment with the Company is terminated
         either by you for Good Reason or by the Company Without Cause, then in
         addition to all other benefits which you have earned prior to such
         termination or to which you are otherwise entitled, the Company shall
         pay to you as severance pay, in a lump sum on or before the fifth day
         following the Date of Termination, the following amounts:

         (a) your full base salary and other benefits earned or accrued through
         the Date of Termination at the rate in effect ten days prior to the
         date the Notice of Termination is given, to the extent not theretofore
         paid; and



                                       4
<PAGE>

         (b) an amount equal to the Severance Multiple specified on Exhibit A
         hereto times an amount which is determined as follows: one-half of the
         cumulative total of your Base Compensation relating to the two calendar
         years immediately preceding the year in which the Change in Control
         occurs; provided that "Base Compensation" for a calendar year is
         defined as the following: the sum of your (i) "Annual Base Salary" plus
         (ii) any "Additional Compensation" for that year. "Annual Base Salary"
         shall mean the gross amount of your salary for a full calendar year
         before any deductions or deferral amounts, which amount shall be
         annualized for any calendar year in which you were not employed for the
         full year and, if you are only employed during all or part of one
         calendar year prior to the Change in Control, such annualized amount
         shall be used to determine your Annual Base Salary for the two calendar
         years preceding the Change in Control. "Additional Compensation" shall
         mean your total short-term incentive compensation, including:
         commissions, bonuses, and any elective contributions that are made by
         or on behalf of you under any plan maintained by the Company that are
         not includable in gross income under Sections 125, 402(e)(3) or
         402(h)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
         to time (the "Code"), but excluding moving or educational reimbursement
         expenses, amounts realized from the exercise of any stock options and
         imputed income attributable to any fringe benefit. If you were not
         eligible for Additional Compensation relating to both of the two years
         immediately preceding the Change in Control, the amount of your
         "Additional Compensation" relating to the year immediately preceding
         the year in which the Change in Control occurs shall be counted twice
         for the purpose of determining the cumulative total of your Base
         Compensation hereunder.

5.       WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS; INSURANCE. If a Change in Control of the Company
         occurs and within the specified period thereafter your employment with
         the Company is terminated either by you for Good Reason or by the
         Company Without Cause, then the Company shall cause to be maintained in
         full force and effect, for the continued benefit of you and your
         dependents for two years after the Date of Termination, all health and
         welfare benefits historically provided to you before the Date of
         Termination, including health, accident, disability and life insurance
         at the levels in effect before the Date of Termination, and such other
         employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements (excluding, however,
         any tax-qualified and nonqualified retirement plan or program of the
         Company), in which you were entitled to participate immediately prior
         to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation
         is possible under the general terms and provisions of such welfare
         plans, programs and arrangements. In the event that your participation
         in any such welfare plan, program or arrangement is barred, or any such
         plan, program or arrangement is discontinued or the benefits thereunder
         materially reduced, the Company shall arrange to provide you with
         benefits substantially similar to those which you were entitled to
         receive under such plans, programs and arrangements immediately prior
         to the Date of Termination. At the end of the period of coverage
         hereinabove provided for, you shall have the option to have assigned to
         you at no cost and with no apportionment of prepaid premiums, any
         assignable insurance owned by the Company and relating specifically to
         you.

6.       OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES. If a Change in Control of the Company occurs and
         within the specified period thereafter your employment with the Company
         is terminated either by you for Good Reason or by the Company Without
         Cause, then the Company



                                       5
<PAGE>

         shall provide you, at the Company's expense, which shall not exceed 25%
         of your Base Compensation in effect at the Effective Date, outplacement
         services with a firm selected by you.

7.       NO MITIGATION REQUIRED. You shall not be required to mitigate the
         amount of any payment or benefit provided for in Section 4 or 5 by
         seeking other employment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
         you shall be required to inform the Company in the event that you
         become re-employed and benefits otherwise receivable under Section 5 of
         this Agreement shall be reduced to the extent that, and for any period
         during which, you receive substantially similar benefits from another
         employer.

8.       ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS.

         (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
         event it is determined (as hereinafter provided) that any payment or
         distribution by or on behalf of the Company or its affiliates, to or
         for your benefit or for the benefit of your estate, whether paid or
         payable or distributed or distributable in connection with your
         employment by the Company or its affiliates pursuant to the terms of
         this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other
         agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement or similar right (any
         such payment or distribution, a "Payment"), would be subject to the
         excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor
         provision thereto), or any interest or penalties with respect to such
         excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
         penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise
         Tax"), then you shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or
         payments (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that, after payment
         by you of all taxes (including federal, state, and local taxes and any
         interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes and including
         any Excise Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, you and/or your
         estate collectively retain (or have withheld and credited on your
         behalf for tax purposes) an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the
         Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.

         (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(e) hereof, all
         determinations required to be made under this Section 8 (including
         whether an Excise Tax is payable by you, the amount of such Excise Tax,
         whether a Gross-Up Payment is required, and the amount of such Gross-Up
         Payment), shall be made by a nationally recognized legal or accounting
         firm selected by you (the "Firm"). The Firm shall submit its initial
         determination and detailed supporting calculations to both you and the
         Company within 15 calendar days after the Date of Termination, if
         applicable. If the Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by
         you and that a Gross-Up Payment is required, the Company shall pay you
         the required Gross-Up Payment within five business days after receipt
         of such determination and calculations. If the Firm determines that no
         Excise Tax is payable by you, it shall, at the same time as it makes
         such determination, furnish you with an opinion that you have
         substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on your federal
         income tax return. Any determination by the Firm as to the amount of
         the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and/or you, with
         respect to the preparation of your federal income tax return for the
         subject year. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of
         Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) at the
         time of the initial



                                       6
<PAGE>

         determination by the Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up
         Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been
         made (an "Underpayment") or that Gross-Up Payments will have been made
         by the Company which should not have been made ("Overpayments"). In the
         event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 8(e)
         hereof and you thereafter are required to make a payment of any Excise
         Tax, you may direct the Firm to determine the amount of the
         Underpayment (if any) that has occurred and to submit its determination
         and detailed supporting calculations to both you and the Company as
         promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by
         the Company to you, or for your benefit, within five business days
         after receipt of such determination and calculations. In the case of an
         Overpayment, you shall, at the direction of the Company, take such
         steps as are reasonably necessary (including, if reasonable, the filing
         of returns and claims for refund), and otherwise reasonably cooperate
         with the Company to correct such Overpayment and ensure that such
         Overpayment is returned to the Company.

         (c) You and the Company shall each provide the Firm access to and
         copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the
         Company or you, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Firm,
         and otherwise cooperate with the Firm in connection with the
         preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section
         8(b) hereof.

         (d) The fees and expenses of the Firm for its services in connection
         with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 8(b)
         hereof shall be borne by the Company. If any such fees and expenses are
         initially paid by you, the Company shall reimburse you the full amount
         of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt from
         you of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of your payment
         thereof.

         (e) You agree to notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
         Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment
         by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given
         as promptly as practicable but no later than ten business days after
         you actually receive notice of such claim. You agree to further apprise
         the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such
         claim is requested to be paid (in each case, to the extent known by
         you). You agree not to pay such claim prior to the earlier of (i) the
         expiration of the 30-calendar-day period following the date on which
         you give such notice to the Company and (ii) the date that any payment
         or amount with respect to such claim is due. If the Company notifies
         you in writing at least five business days prior to the expiration of
         such period that it desires to contest such claim, you agree to:

             (i) Provide the Company with any written records or documents in
             your possession relating to such claim reasonably requested by the
             Company;

             (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as
             the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
             including without limitation accepting legal representation with
             respect to such claim by an attorney



                                       7
<PAGE>

             competent in respect of the subject matter and reasonably selected
             by the Company;

             (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to contest
             effectively such claim; and

             (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating
             to such claim;

         provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all
         costs and expenses (including interest and penalties) incurred in
         connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold you harmless,
         on an after-tax basis, for and against any Excise Tax or federal, state
         or local income taxes, including interest and penalties with respect
         thereto, imposed as a result of such representation and payment of
         costs and expenses. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this
         Section 8(e), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in
         connection with the contest of any claim contemplated by this Section
         8(e) and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all
         administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the
         taxing authority in respect of such claim (provided, however, that you
         may participate therein at your own cost and expense) and may, at its
         option, either direct you to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund
         or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and you agree to
         prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative
         tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more
         appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however,
         that if the Company directs you to pay the tax claimed and sue for a
         refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to you on
         an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold you harmless, on an
         after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or federal, state and local income
         taxes including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed
         with respect to such advance; and provided further, however, that you
         shall agree, at the request of the Company, to extend the statute of
         limitations relating to payment of taxes for your taxable year with
         respect to which the contested amount is claimed to be due, provided
         such extension shall be limited solely to such contested amount.
         Furthermore, the Company's control of any such contested claim shall be
         limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be
         payable hereunder and you shall be entitled to settle or contest, as
         the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service
         or any other taxing authority.

         (f) If, after the receipt by you of an amount advanced by the Company
         pursuant to Section 8(e) hereof, you receive any refund with respect to
         such claim, you agree (subject to the Company's complying with the
         requirements of Section 8(e) hereof) to promptly pay to the Company the
         amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited
         thereon net of any taxes imposed with respect thereto). If, after your
         receipt of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 8(e)
         hereof, a determination is made that you are not entitled to any refund
         with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify you in
         writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the
         expiration of 30 calendar days after such determination, then such
         advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and
         the amount of such advance shall



                                       8
<PAGE>

         offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required
         to be paid pursuant to this Section 8.

9.       INDEMNIFICATION; D&O INSURANCE. If a Change in Control of the Company
         occurs and within the specified period thereafter your employment with
         the Company is terminated either by you for Good Reason or by the
         Company Without Cause, then the Company shall, to the fullest extent
         permitted by law, honor all of the Company's obligations to indemnify
         and hold you harmless (whether pursuant to the Company's Amended and
         Restated Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, individual indemnity
         agreements, applicable laws or otherwise), including any obligations to
         advance funds against any cost or expenses (including advancing
         attorneys' fees and expenses in advance of the final disposition of any
         claim, suit, proceeding or investigation to you to the fullest extent
         permitted by law), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages,
         liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any
         actual or threatened claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigative,
         whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out
         of, relating to or in connection with any action or omission occurring
         or alleged to have occurred relating to or in connection with any
         action or omission in connection with your employment with the Company.
         In addition, the Company shall continue to provide directors and
         officers liability coverage for your benefit in the same maximum
         amount, and on substantially the same terms and conditions, as the
         policy currently in effect with respect to the Company's directors and
         officers, for a period of at least six years.

10.      COMPANY SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT. The Company shall require any
         successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
         consolidation or other transaction that does not constitute a "Change
         in Control") to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets
         of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement
         in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
         required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure
         of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of
         any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall
         entitle you to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on
         the same terms as you would be entitled to hereunder if the Company had
         terminated your employment after a Change in Control occurring at the
         time of succession, except that for purposes of implementing the
         foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective
         shall be deemed the Date of Termination.

11.      YOUR SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall inure to the
         benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal
         representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
         distributees, devisees and legatees. If you should die while any
         amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to
         live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid
         in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisees,
         legatees, or other designee or, if there be no such devisee, legatee or
         other designee, to your estate.

12.      LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES. It is the intent of the Company that you shall
         not be required to incur the expenses associated with the enforcement
         of your rights under this Agreement by legal action or negotiation to
         resolve any disputes in the event that you are



                                       9
<PAGE>

         the prevailing party in the dispute. Accordingly, if it should appear
         to you that the Company has failed to comply with any of its
         obligations under this Agreement or in the event the Company or any
         other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or
         unenforceable, or institutes any legal action designed to deny, or to
         recover from, you the benefits intended to be provided to you
         hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes you from time to time to
         retain counsel of your choice, at the expense of the Company, to
         represent you in connection with the initiation or defense of any legal
         action or negotiation to resolve any disputes relative to this
         Agreement on the matters provided for herein, whether by or against the
         Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person
         affiliated with the Company; provided, however, that you shall be
         obligated to reimburse the expense of the Company for your reasonable
         counsel fees and related fees and expenses that the Company has paid on
         your behalf in the event that you are not the prevailing party in the
         dispute. The Company shall also pay or cause to be paid any and all
         counsel and related fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of
         the Company's failure to perform this Agreement or any provision hereof
         (including this Section 12) or as a result of the Company or any person
         contesting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any
         provision hereof; provided, however, that you shall be obligated to
         reimburse the expense of the Company for your reasonable counsel fees
         and related fees and expenses that the Company has paid on your behalf
         in the event that you are not the prevailing party in the dispute.

13.      NOTICE. Notices and all other communications provided for in this
         Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
         given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return
         receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective
         addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, provided that
         all notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the
         Secretary of the Company, or to such other address as either party may
         have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except
         that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

14.      MISCELLANEOUS. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived
         or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed
         to in writing signed by you and such officer as may be specifically
         designated by the Board, provided, that the Company shall have the
         right to terminate its obligations to you under this Agreement by
         written notice given to you at any time prior to a Change in Control of
         the Company, so long as such termination is not done in anticipation of
         or in connection with a Change in Control of the Company. No waiver by
         either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto
         of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to
         be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or
         dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or
         subsequent time. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
         between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter hereof.

15.      VALIDITY; GOVERNING LAW. The invalidity or unenforceability of any one
         or more provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
         enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall
         remain in full force and effect. The validity, interpretation,
         construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the


                                       10
<PAGE>

         laws of the State of Ohio, without giving effect to the principles of
         conflicts of law of such state.

16.      JURISDICTION. In the event of any dispute or controversy arising under
         or in connection with this Agreement the parties hereto hereby
         irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction thereof of either the Common
         Pleas Court of the State of Ohio (Summit County) or the United States
         District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

17.      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
         counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all
         of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

If this letter correctly sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof,
kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copy of the letter which will
then constitute our agreement on this subject.

                        Sincerely,

                        NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.


                        By: /s/ Omer Yonel
                            -------------------------------------------------
                            Omer Yonel, President and Chief Executive Officer


Accepted and agreed to
this 21st day of March, 2003


/s/ Dale E. Stitt
----------------------------
Dale E. Stitt



                                       11
<PAGE>



                     CHANGE IN CONTROL PROTECTION AGREEMENT


                                    EXHIBIT A


       NAME OF EMPLOYEE                                SEVERANCE MULTIPLE
       ----------------                                ------------------
         Dale E. Stitt                                          2
---------------------------------              ---------------------------------




List of Benefits:
----------------



1.       Medical insurance

2.       Dental insurance

3.       Group term life insurance

4.       Short-term disability / salary or wage continuation

5.       Long-term disability insurance

6.       401(k) investment plan

7.       Paid time off

8.       Skills enhancement

9.       Automatic payroll deposit

10.      Paid jury duty

11.      Bereavement leave

12.      Workers' compensation









                                       12