Robby Bales wrapped his seventh season as head coach of Oredigger baseball in 2025 and 10th season overall with the program. He was named head coach for Mines baseball on August 7, 2018 following a short stint as interim head coach from May-July. The announcement came following his third season as an assistant coach. Bales came to Mines in 2016 and took over as top assistant in 2017.
During his tenure as Mines' skipper, Bales holds an overall record of 159-140 with a mark of 103-93 in RMAC play. He has coached his players to 27 All-RMAC awards, 19 all-region awards, eight all-America nods, seven CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one MLB Draft Pick and had one player signed as a free agent in the MLB. The Utah native also touts one RMAC Gold Glove winner. Additionally, Bales touts two RMAC Pitchers of the Year during his time at the helm including RMAC Pitcher of the Year, NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, D2CCA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year and the RMAC's all-time wins leader in Tyler Blosmter. Under Bales' leadership, the Orediggers have broken or tied 72 program records including most wins in a season in 2019. Additionally, Bales has guided Mines to the NCAA Tournament along with multiple appearances in the RMAC Tournament, advancing to the regional and conference tournament final in 2019. Bales' teams have also performed in the classroom as the squad brought home the RMAC Brechler Award in 2020, 2021, and 2023 as the team boasting the highest combined GPA in the conference. Since the summer of 2022, Bales has served coaching roles in the MLB-partner Pioneer League with both the Northern Colorado Owlz and Grand Junction Jakelopes.
As an assistant, Bales helped generate some of the best offensive seasons in program history, including program season records for team average (.326 in 2016), runs scored (465 in 2018), triples (22 in 2017), home runs (86 in 2018), and RBI (428 in 2018). Defensively, he has had three infielders earn four RMAC Gold Glove honors including catcher Mikey Gangwish in 2017 and 2018, first baseman Jace Selsor in 2018 and pitcher Nate Olinger in 2016. Second basemen Zach Bothwell (2015) and Logan Smith (2017) were named all-region for their all-around play.
Prior to joining the Orediggers, Bales was the head coach at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, where he lead the Mustangs to their best season since 2010 winning the 5A Jeffco League Tournament championship. He also served one year as an associate scout for the Boston Red Sox organization.
From 2010 to 2014 Bales served as the head coach at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, where he piloted the Spartans to three Denver Prep League titles and was named Coach of the Year in 2011. As head coach at TJ, Bales coached Colorado Rockies first-round draft pick Kyle Freeland and Rawlings All-American Evan Walter. Bales also coached the Colorado Instructional Summer program to the 2010 and 2012 Connie Mack State Titles.
From 2006 to 2010 Bales served as the Recruiting Coordinator and Head Assistant Coach at Colorado Northwestern Community College, where he was the architect of three of the best recruiting classes in school history, and was recognized as the Scenic West Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007.
Bales began his coaching career at Grand Junction High School and helped lead the Tigers to the 2005 CHSAA 5A state title, while also running the Western Slope Golden Eagles fall and summer travel programs. Bales has also been a part of the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League for five seasons, serving as head coach of the Denver Titans and Game Day Crusaders.
Bales is a native of Magna, Utah where he was selected as an all-state shortstop at Hillcrest High School. He went on to play at Cuesta College and was selected to the all-Scenic West team. He then signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Angels before injuries cut his career short. Bales resides in Westminster with his wife Anna and is a proud father of a son (Dillon) and two daughters (Taylor and Torre).
