A Mines Athletics primer: Everything you need to know about the Orediggers

As the saying goes, Colorado School of Mines is where nerds win.

It’s not some tired cliche, either – the numbers prove it out.

Since 1972, the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers have tallied 214 Academic All-Americans, the most among all NCAA Division II members. 

Since 2012, Mines has lifted the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Sports Cup eight times, a recognition of the RMAC’s best athletic department. 

Through the 2024-25 season, Mines has placed in the top 10 six consecutive times in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which measures the success of all NCAA Division II athletic departments.

And that’s just the beginning. 

Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about the Orediggers on and off the field as the 2025-26 NCAA season gets underway. 

What is Colorado School of Mines?

Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering. We go by “Mines” for short, not Colorado Mines, School of Mines and definitely not School of Mimes (big shoutout to NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan for clarifying that last misconception on Fox NFL Sunday in the leadup to our second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship Game a few years back).

We’ve been around awhile, too. Mines was founded in 1874 to support the local mining industry – hence our athletics moniker, the Orediggers. In the 150 years since, we’ve expanded our scope and mission to shape what's next in energy, mineral resources, advanced materials and manufacturing, and sustainable environment and climate. Orediggers are sought-after leaders in all of their pursuits - conducting research in a lab, solving problems with a team, or displaying exceptional skills on the field, stage or page. In other words, we’re nerds – and proud of it.

Where is Colorado School of Mines?

Mines is located in Golden, Colorado, a historic mining town nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We’re 20 minutes from downtown Denver and one hour to the nearest big ski area, with 24 miles of interconnected trails and 300 days of sunshine. 

Golden’s other claim to fame? The original Coors Brewery – and the only place in the world that brews Coors Banquet beer.

What NCAA division does Colorado School of Mines compete in?

Colorado School of Mines competes in NCAA Division II, which counts about 300 universities and colleges across the U.S. as members, 89 percent of which have student enrollments of fewer than 7,500.  

Division II, or D-II for short, prioritizes balance between athletics and academics and follows a regional competition model to reduce time away from campus and keep athletics participation in perspective within the educational mission. Division II also employs a unique scholarship model for student-athletes, awarding partial athletics scholarships that students combine with academic or need-based grants to construct a financial aid package. 

Fun fact: In the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings, Mines is consistently the No. 1 university in the nation among all schools competing at the NCAA Division II level.

More details about Division II athletics can be found on the NCAA website. 

What conference does Colorado School of Mines compete in?

Mines is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which covers the states of Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Utah. 

The RMAC currently has 15 full members:

• Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado
• Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota
• Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska
• Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, Colorado
• University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
• Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado
• Colorado School of Mines
• Colorado State University Pueblo
• Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico
• Regis University, Denver, Colorado
• South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota
• Western Colorado University, Gunnison, Colorado
• Westminster University, Salt Lake City, Utah

Learn more about the conference on the RMAC website. 

In how many sports do the Orediggers compete at the DII level? 

Mines has 16 varsity athletics programs – nine men’s teams and seven women’s teams across 10 sports. 

Men’s Sports

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Track & Field
• Wrestling

Women’s Sports

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Track & Field
• Volleyball

What about club sports? Can I play competitive sports at Mines if I’m not a varsity athlete?

Mines has a robust roster of club sports, with 20 men’s, women’s and co-ed teams across 14 sports. 

Women’s Club Sports

• Lacrosse
• Rugby
• Soccer
• Ultimate
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Men’s Club Sports

• Lacrosse
• Rugby
• Soccer
• Ultimate
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Co-ed Club Sports

• Baseball
• Cycling Mountain
• Cycling Road
• Esports
• Ice Hockey
• Ski Team
• Tennis
• Triathlon

Learn more about club sports at Mines on the Mines Athletics website. 

Can I watch the Orediggers play on TV?

Yes! The RMAC Network provides coverage of all RMAC athletics events and is accessible on any smart TV, computer, tablet or smartphone – just visit RMACNetwork.com or download the RMAC Network app. Starting with the 2025-26 season, all events broadcast by the RMAC Network are available for purchase via a single-game pass or a monthly or annual subscription. 

What is the Mines mascot? 

Colorado School of Mines' world-famous mascot is Blaster the Burro, an oversized miniature burro who serves as an enduring symbol of the determination and work ethic of all Orediggers.

Blaster is most commonly seen running the football field after every Mines touchdown – the only D-II college football game-day tradition on a recent ESPN list – as well as attending events such as the E-Days Ore Cart Pull and Commencement. While on campus, Blaster is cared for by the Blue Key Honor Society.

Learn more about the burros behind Blaster in this Mines Magazine article. 

I hear it’s hard to get into Mines. Are the admissions standards different for athletes?

All student-athletes at Colorado School of Mines must meet the same rigorous admissions requirements as any other student interested in attending the university – including having successfully completed the required math and science coursework in high school. 

Once at Mines, our student-athletes take their studies seriously. And like any other student, in order to earn any bachelor’s degree at Mines, student-athletes take three semesters of calculus – not to mention physics and chemistry.

What does it mean to be an Oredigger athlete? Hear from two recent Mines graduates, 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Top 9 Finalist Zoe Baker (women’s cross country/track & field) and 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy Winner John Matocha (football).

Did Mines win any national championships in 2024-25 at the varsity or club level? 

Yes! The Men’s Cross Country team won the 2024 NCAA Division II Championship, its fourth national trophy in program history. On the individual level, Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge won the women’s 5,000 meters at the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.

On the club side, the Mines Cycling Team won their sixth consecutive (!!) national championship and the Women’s Rugby Team finished as the national runner up.

Talk about #helluvaengineer.

What sports facilities are on the Mines campus?

Mines is home to one of the finest outdoor athletics facilities in NCAA Division II, the Clear Creek Athletics Complex. Sitting at the base of Mount Zion with stunning views of Golden and its surroundings, the complex features Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium, Stermole Soccer Stadium, Joe Coors Jr. Softball Field, Jim Darden Field and the Stermole Track & Field Complex.

Indoor athletics facilities on campus include the 3,000-seat Lockridge Arena and Natatorium inside the Student Recreation Center and the historic Steinhauer Fieldhouse and Russell H. Volk Gymnasium.

Mines also maintains two natural grass fields in the heart of campus for use by club, intramural and recreational sports.

Mines Athletics: Quick Stats

8 

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) All-Sports Cup victories since 2012, awarded to the conference's best athletic department

6 

Consecutive top-10 finishes in the Learfield Directors' Cup through 2024-25, measuring the success of NCAA Division II athletic departments

67

RMAC Championships in the last decade

214 

Academic All-Americans since 1972, the most among NCAA Division II members

4 & 23

4 team and 23 individual national champions all-time

46 

All-Americans in 2024-25

803

Mines students who competed in Club Sports in 2024-25

1,803 

Mines students who participated in at least one Intramural Sports event in 2024-25 (that’s nearly 25 percent of the campus population!)

Want the latest news on the Orediggers? Check out the Mines Athletics website for scores, schedules and more.