Colorado School of Mines Athletics

Heather Roberts came to Colorado School of Mines in 2008 as the assistant volleyball coach under Jamie Magalei (then Skadeland). The 2020 season will mark her 13th season as the assistant for the Orediggers.

During her time with the program, Roberts has aided Mines to a 281-94 overall record (.749 winning percentage), as well as a 177-43 mark in RMAC matches (.804 winning percentage). She was named the AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013 and has assisted with the development of numerous award winners including the 2018 AVCA National Freshman of the Year, three Regional Players of the Year, two Regional Freshmen of the Year, six RMAC Setters of the Year, four RMAC Players of the Year, two RMAC Freshmen of the Year and one RMAC Defensive Player of the Year with a total of 47 All-RMAC performers and 24 First-Team All-RMAC players.

The 2019 campaign saw Roberts help the Orediggers to their third RMAC Tournament title in the last five years. Mines finished the season 25-7 overall with a mark of 13-5 in RMAC play. Roberts also helped Mines reach its 11th straight NCAA Tournament  where it advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. The historic run featured 10 consecutive victories including wins over Colorado Mesa, #5-ranked Regis and MSU Denver in the RMAC Tournament before taking down Tarleton State and #12-ranked Angelo State in the NCAA Tournament. Mines' success led to numerous individual awards which were headlined by All-America nods for Abby Tiesman and Drew Stokes. Tiesman was also named AVCA South Central Regional Player of the Year. Both Tiesman and Stokes received first-team all-region nods from the AVCA and D2CCA. In total, Roberts assisted six individuals to All-RMAC distinction and helped the team create 17 new entries into the program record book.

The 2018 season saw Roberts assist in bringing the Orediggers their sixth RMAC regular season title. Mines finished the season 24-6 overall and 16-2 in RMAC play. Roberts also helped the Orediggers to their 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance where they defeated MSU Denver in the first round. Roberts mentorship helped roll in plenty of awards highlighted by the program's first-ever AVCA National Freshman of the Year in Drew Stokes. The freshman also earned AVCA All-America honors, South Central Region Freshman of the Year, RMAC Setter of the Year and RMAC Freshman of the Year. In total, Roberts helped mentor six All-RMAC players, two all-region performers and two all-Americans. With Roberts on staff, Mines broke one program record and added 11 entries to the Oredigger record book in 2018.

Roberts helped Mines bring home its fifth RMAC regular season championship in 2017 as the Orediggers recorded at least 25 wins for a sixth-straight season, going 25-6 overall and 17-1 in RMAC play. Mines was ranked as high as No. 16 in the AVCA Top 25 and finished the season ranked No. 21 in NCAA Division II. Mines qualified for their ninth-straight NCAA tournament behind the play of senior all-American setter Marina Hansen after she was named RMAC Setter of the Year.

In 2016, Mines had another banner year winning its second consecutive RMAC Tournament title with a 25-7 record. The Orediggers remained in the AVCA Top 25 all season as they advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round led by all-region hitters Alanna Winfield and Ellie Monarch and RMAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Taryn Huber. Huber also became Mines volleyball's first-ever Academic All-American as she took home RMAC Academic Player of the Year honors.

Roberts along with head coach Jamie Skadeland led the Orediggers to a 2015 season that saw a program-record 27 wins to only six loses and a 16-2 mark in the RMAC. Mines also reached as high as No. 6 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. Johnson-Hazlewood, along with fellow AVCA All-American Alanna Winfield, took Mines to No. 5 nationally in assists per set (13.58), No. 6 in kill per set (14.44) and led the program to its first ever RMAC Tournament Championship. By season’s end, Roberts had helped groom Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood and Alanna Winfield to AVCA Second Team All-Americans (third straight honor for both), the RMAC Summit Award winner (Taryn Huber), two All-South Central Tournament Selections, three RMAC Tournament selections including Tournament MVP Frannie Cormier, two Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team members, five all-conference choices including Player and Setter of the Year Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood (second consecutive season), eight RMAC Players of the Week and three AVCA All-Region honorees.

Roberts was named the AVCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season as she helped Mines to its third straight RMAC Championship in 2014. Led by repeat AVCA and Daktronics All-American Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood, the Orediggers closed at 25-4 overall and 17-1 in the RMAC in 2014, reaching as high as No. 4 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. Johnson-Hazlewood, along with fellow AVCA All-Americans and First Team All-RMAC selections Alanna Winfield and Megan Peterson, propelled Mines to No. 2 nationally in assists per set (14.11), No. 3 in kills per set (14.88), No. 9 in attacks per set (39.56) and No. 15 in digs per set (18.88) – all conference-highs. The RMAC Player and Setter of the Year, Johnson-Hazlewood became the program's all-time assists leader during the opening set against Western State on Sept. 24, passing Amanda Massey (2008-11) for the record with the 3,123rd assist of her career. Roberts had helped the Orediggers to two RMAC First Team All-Academic recipients, three Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team members, five all-conference choices, 14 RMAC Players of the Week, and three AVCA and Daktronics All-Region honorees, in addition to the trio of All-Americans.

Roberts was named the AVCA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year during the 2013 campaign, as the Orediggers backed up their first-ever RMAC Volleyball Title in 2012 with a repeat performance in 2013. The squad posted a 25-7 overall record, including a 17-2 mark in RMAC play. Mines once against spent the entirety of the campaign inside the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 poll before ending the season with a No. 19 national ranking. The squad embarked on a fifth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South Central Region and advanced to the semifinal round of the regional tournament for the third-consecutive season. Also, the squad was ranked No. 1 in the region during the 2013 campaign, the first such ranking in program history. Roberts helped lead the Orediggers to a program record 15-match win streak and once again hosted the RMAC Volleyball Tournament for the second-straight season. Senior Melanie Wannamaker was named a First Team AVCA All-American, sophomore Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood was named a Second Team AVCA All-American and freshman Alanna Winfield was named a Third Team AVCA All-American during the 2013 season, marking the first time Mines has had three All-Americans in one season, and its second-straight season with multiple All-Americans. Sophomore Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood was also named a Third Team All-American by Daktronics. Additionally, Wannamaker set program records for kills in a season (524), attack percentage (.386), kills per set (4.48) and finished fifth in the nation in attack percentage, fifth in kills per set and fourth in points per set (5.22). Also named the RMAC Player of the Year, First Team All-RMAC, First Team AVCA All-Region, First Team Daktronics All-Region and the Daktronics South Central Region Player of the Year, Wannamaker was named the RMAC Athlete of the Month in October and was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on five occasions during the 2013 campaign. She was named to the Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team, the RMAC All-Tournament Team and the South Central Region All-Tournament Team as well. Johnson Hazlewood set a new program record for assists in a season (1,494) and assists per set (12.77) while finishing third nationally in assists per set and total assists. She was named the RMAC Setter of the Year, First Team All-RMAC, First Team AVCA All-Region, First Team Daktronics All-Region and earned spots as the Tournament MVP of the Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team and was also named to the South Central Region All-Tournament Team. She earned RMAC Setter of the Week honors on five occasions during the 2013 campaign as well. Winfield earned RMAC Freshman of the Year and AVCA South Central Region Freshman of the Year honors and earned one RMAC Offensive Player of the Week award in 2013. She also grabbed a spot on the Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team and was named Second Team All-RMAC and AVCA All-Region during her rookie campaign. Senior Hannah Margheim was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions during the 2013 campaign and she and sophomore Corrine Din were named the Academic All-RMAC Honor Roll. Margheim ended her career as the program’s all-time leader in career digs with 1,905. Additionally, Din was named First Team Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District and earned the RMAC Volleyball Summit Award for having the highest grade point average of any athlete at the 2013 RMAC Volleyball Championships. 

The 2012 Orediggers set numerous program records under Roberts’ assistance, including a 26-7 overall record, a 17-2 conference record and the program’s first-ever RMAC Championship. The squad spent the entirety of the 2012 season inside the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll, climbing to a program-record 11th in the final poll. The squad embarked on its fourth-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament with a program-record No. 2 ranking in the NCAA Division II South Central Region. The Orediggers posted a 7-4 record against teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25 and advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive year. Mines hosted the RMAC Volleyball Tournament for the first time in program history and advanced to the RMAC Tournament Championship match – also a first for the program. Head Coach Jamie Skadeland was named both the RMAC Coach of the Year and the AVCA South Central Region Coach of the Year after the squad recorded a .788 winning percentage – also a program record. Senior Jackie Stabell was named a Second Team AVCA All-American, a Third Team Daktronics All-American, First Team Daktronics All-Region, First Team All-RMAC, the Daktronics South Central Region Player of the Year, the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year and the RMAC Academic Player of the Year during the 2012 season. In addition, Stabell earned spots on the Courtyard and Residence Inn by MarriottOredigger Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team, the RMAC All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Division II South Central Regional All-Tournament Team. Stabell was also named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on four occasions during the 2012 campaign and earned AVCA National Player of the Week honors. A member of Skadeland and Roberts’ first-ever recruiting class; Stabell finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in kills with 1,516. Junior Melanie Wannamaker set a program record with a .355 attack percentage en route to Second Team AVCA All-American, AVCA All-Region and Second Team All-RMAC honors and was named both an RMAC Offensive and RMAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2012. Freshman Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood was named Honorable Mention AVCA All-Region in addition to earning Second Team All-RMAC honors. She was named the RMAC Setter of the Week on three occasions and senior Holly Hutchison earned Third Team All-RMAC honors as well. 

Also during the 2012-13 academic year, Roberts was named to the AVCA's "Thirty Under 30" list. 

Roberts was instrumental in helping lead the Orediggers to their third-straight NCAA Tournament in 2011, and fourth in school history, after the squad posted an 18-9 regular season record and a 12-6 mark in the RMAC. The squad posted a 6-4 record against teams ranked in the top 25 during the season, with no win bigger than the team’s 3-2 upset of then-No. 4 and top-seeded Nebraska-Kearney in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The win over the Lopers was the first NCAA Tournament victory in the history of the CSM Volleyball program and the Orediggers accounted for both losses by the Lopers during the season. The squad fell to No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State in the second round by a score of 3-1 to end its season with a 19-11 overall record and CSM was receiving votes in the final AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. Amanda Massey was named AVCA All-Region, Daktronics Second Team All-Region, First Team All-RMAC and RMAC Setter of the Year after setting a new program mark with 1,276 assists on the season. She was named RMAC/Baden Setter of the Week on four occasions during the year and Sports Imports / AVCA Division II National Player of the Week on two occasions. Jackie Stabell was named First Team All-RMAC, AVCA All-Region and earned the program’s first All-American award after earning Third Team All-American honors from the AVCA. She also earned a selection to the NCAA Division II Central Region All-Tournament Team and Holly Hutchison joined Massey and Stabell on the All-RMAC teams after earning a Third Team selection by the league’s coaches.  

Roberts helped lead the Orediggers to their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament in 2010.  Mines earned the #8 seed in the Central Region Tournament and squared off against #1 seed and tournament host Southwest Minnesota State University in the quarterfinals.  CSM endured a five-set loss to the Mustangs, who were ranked fourth in the country at the time.  The Orediggers, who were ranked as high as #8 in the Central Region rankings during the 2010 season, finished the year at 19-10 overall.  Mines went 12-6 in the RMAC and finished third in the East Division standings.  The Orediggers earned the #4 seed in the RMAC Tournament, marking the third time in as many seasons that CSM qualified for post-season competition.  Elizabeth Serra-Hsu was a First Team All-RMAC selection and Jackie Stabell garnered Second Team All-RMAC recognition.

In 2009, Roberts helped guide the Orediggers to their second-ever NCAA post-season appearance.  Mines, which established new single-season program records for overall victories (22) and conference victories, qualified as the #8 seed in the 2009 NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament.  CSM posted a 13-6 mark in the RMAC in 2009 and tied for third place in the East Division.  The Orediggers recorded a new program record for consecutive matches won (nine) and qualified for the RMAC Tournament for the second consecutive season.  Mines earned the #5 seed in the RMAC Tournament and advanced into the semifinals for the second year in a row.  Two Orediggers earned All-RMAC honors, including Serra-Hsu, who also garnered Second Team All-Central Region recognition.

During Roberts' first season at CSM in 2008, the Orediggers compiled a 19-13 overall record (12-7 RMAC) and qualified as the #6 seed in the RMAC Tournament.  The Orediggers, who advanced into the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament, were ranked as high as eighth in the NCAA Division II Central Region Poll in 2008.

Prior to her arrival at CSM, Roberts spent the 2007 season as an assistant coach at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri - Rolla). From 2005 to 2007, Roberts served in the capacities of assistant coach and interim head coach at Bemidji State University.

Roberts' coaching experience also includes a pair of positions with both USA Volleyball High Performance and the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball. She was part of the coaching staffs at the 2012 Girls' Youth Training Camp and the 2013 and 2014 USA Selection National A2 Individual Team Programs, serving as an Associate Head Coach in the High Performance position in 2014. The head coach of the Po'okela Volleyball Club in Lihue, Hawaii, from 1999-02, Roberts also guided the Central Missouri Volleyball Club from 2003-05. During the summers of 2002-05, Roberts also spent time as an assistant coach for the Kauai High School varsity volleyball team in Lihue. 

A 2005 graduate of William Woods University (NAIA) in Fulton, Missouri, Roberts was a starting setter and right-side hitter on the Owls' volleyball team from 2001-04. Roberts, who served as a co-captain for the Owls, earned First Team All-Conference, Academic All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Conference, Region V Setter of the Week, AMC Setter of the Week and WWU Student-Athlete of the Month honors during her collegiate career.

Roberts earned her master's degree in Sports Studies from Bemidji State in 2007.