The 2018-19 season marked Pryor Orser's 18th year as the head men's basketball coach at Colorado School of Mines.
The architect of the most successful era in Mines basketball history, Orser's teams have dominated the RMAC over the past decade winning five RMAC regular-season championships (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2019), two RMAC Tournament titles (2012, 2017), and earning nine NCAA Tournament berths, including six straight since 2014.
Orser has compiled a 339-188 record through 2018-19 with 15 consecutive winning seasons. Orser has earned five RMAC Coach of the Year honors (most recently in 2018-19), the 2017 NABC South Central Coach of the Year, and the 2011-12 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year award. In 2011-12, Mines won its first-ever RMAC Tournament title, and the Orediggers won regular-season crowns in 2010-11, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2016-17, and 2018-19.
In 2018-19, Orser helped Mines win yet another title as the Orediggers set a program record for RMAC wins (21-1) and winning streak (22 in a row) to capture the RMAC regular-season title. The Orediggers earned another NCAA Tournament berth as well, their ninth under Orser, led by all-American, Academic All-American, and RMAC Player of the Year Ben Sonnefeld and RMAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Ben Clare.
The 2017-18 season saw Mines make its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Despite injuries to key personnel through the season, Orser guided the Orediggers to the RMAC Tournament semifinals and the NCAA South Central Regional once again. Michael Glen was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year, Luke Schroepfer was an NABC All-Region pick as he shattered Mines three-point shooting records, and Ben Sonnefeld earned all-RMAC awards.
The 2016-17 season turned into the greatest in program history as Orser led the Orediggers to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time. Led by all-American Gokul Natesan, Mines won both the RMAC regular-season and Tournament titles and earned the right to host the NCAA South Central tournament, which it won with wins over Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Lewis, and West Texas A&M. Mines set a program record for wins at 30-5 as they made the trip to Sioux Falls for the Elite Eight.
Orser led the Orediggers to a 15-12 overall record during the 2012-13 season, including a 12-10 record in RMAC play. Luke Meisch and Trevor Wages earned First Team All-RMAC honors, while Wages was also named Daktronics Second Team All-Region. Brian Muller was named Second Team All-RMAC as well.
Orser led Mines to the greatest season in program history during the 2011-12 season, including a school-record 29 victories en route to the squad's second-straight RMAC regular season title. The squad also captured the institution's first RMAC Postseason Tournament title (RMAC Shootout) as well as the right to host the Central Region Tournament after ending the regular season as the top-ranked team in the region. Mines spent the entire season inside the NABC/Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll – climbing from No. 18 at the beginning of the year to No. 1 in the final regular season poll. The No. 1 ranking was the first in program history, and the Orediggers entered their third-straight NCAA Tournament as the top-ranked team in all of Division II basketball. The squad finished the year with its first-ever appearance in the Sweet 16 and ended the season with a 29-3 overall record. Orser earned his second-straight RMAC Coach of the Year honor after leading Mines to a 20-2 conference record during the campaign. He was named the NABC Central District Coach of the Year, the 2011-12 Basketball Times Division II Coach of the Year and was also named one of 10 finalists for the 2012 Clarence "Big House" Gaines Division II National Coach of the Year award. Mines posted its second win over a top-ranked team with a 68-57 victory over then-No. 1 Metro State on January 6, and the squad used that momentum to post victories in 19 of its final 21 games, including 17 in a row at one point. Junior Brett Green was named RMAC Player of the Year as well as an NABC All-American, Basketball Times Second Team All-American and Third Team All-American by the Division II Bulletin. He was also named First Team All-District by the NABC while Dale Minschwaner was named First Team All-RMAC and Second Team All-District by the NABC. Trevor Wages earned Second Team All-RMAC accolades and Trevor Ritchie was named Third Team All-RMAC as well as RMAC Freshman of the Year. Mines finished the season ranked No. 9 in the final NABC/Division II Coaches Poll and finished second nationally in win-loss percentage (90.6), fourth nationally in scoring margin (+15.1), 11th nationally in rebounding margin (+7.0), 16th nationally in scoring defense (61.7), 17th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (39.4) and 30th nationally in free throw percentage (74.6).
Orser was selected as the RMAC Coach of the Year in 2010-11 after leading CSM to the RMAC regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the RMAC Shootout. Mines (25-6 overall, 18-4 RMAC) set new single-season program records for overall and conference victories and qualified for the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament for the second year in a row. The Orediggers, who were ranked 20th in the final 2010-11 NABC Top 25 Poll, were ranked as high as No. 2 in the Central Region and No. 18 in the nation in 2010-11. Three Orediggers earned All-RMAC recognition, including Sean Armstrong, who went on to garner All-Region and All-American honors.
In 2009-10, Orser was named RMAC East Division Coach of the Year after leading Mines to a 17-12 overall record (14-5 RMAC) and a share of the RMAC East Division title. The Orediggers made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament and established a new single-season program record for conference victories. CSM earned the No. 1 seed in the East Division for the RMAC Shootout and hosted a Quarterfinal game at Lockridge Arena. Dale Minschwaner earned First Team All-RMAC, RMAC East Division Player of the Year and First Team All-East Division honors while Brett Green garnered RMAC East Division Freshman of the Year accolades. Green's selection as the RMAC East Division Freshman of the Year marked the sixth time that an Oredigger has earned such recognition during Orser's tenure (Stephen Bahl, 2001-02; Kevin Wagstaff, 2002-03; Ben Mohr, 2004-05; Kyle Pape, 2005-06; Minschwaner, 2008-09).
Mines posted a 14-13 overall record (9-10 RMAC) in 2008-09. Two Orediggers were named All-RMAC, including Pape (Second Team All-East Division) and Minschwaner (Third Team All-East Division). Minschwaner was also selected as the 2008-09 RMAC East Division Freshman of the Year.
In 2007-08, the Orediggers compiled a 15-14 overall record (8-11 RMAC). Three Orediggers earned All-RMAC recognition, including Pape, who was a unanimous First Team All-RMAC East Division selection.
Mines compiled a 14-13 overall record (8-11 RMAC) in 2006-07 as three Orediggers (Pape, Ian Elseth and Franklin Ryk) earned recognition on the All-RMAC teams.
In 2005-06, Orser led the Orediggers to a 15-14 overall record (9-10 RMAC). CSM earned the No. 7 seed in the RMAC Shootout and knocked off No. 2 seed Fort Lewis. The victory marked CSM's first post-season win since 1996. Two players earned All-RMAC recognition for CSM, and Pape was named RMAC Freshman of the Year.
Orser led CSM to a 16-12 overall mark (10-9 RMAC) in 2004-05 and an appearance in the RMAC Shootout. During the 2004-05 campaign, CSM registered a 74-71 upset victory over then top-ranked Metro State at Volk Gymnasium. Bahl, who was selected as the North Central Region Player of the Year, garnered First Team All-RMAC, First Team All-North Central Region and Third Team All-American honors. It was the first time in program history that a CSM player had been named All-American. In the spring of 2005, Westword Newspaper named Pryor Orser's Baskeball Camps as the Best Place for Young Hoops Hotshots in its annual Best of Denver issue. Orser's camps have grown each year and have attracted as many as 140 players during a single week.
Orser's 2002-03 team posted an 18-10 overall record (12-7 RMAC) and advanced to the RMAC Shootout for the first time since 1999. The 2002-03 squad established numerous team records, including a 15-2 start, a perfect 7-0 record against the RMAC West Division, a #4 ranking in the North Central Region and an 11-game winning streak. The 2002-03 Orediggers also achieved a #26 national ranking. Four players went on to earn All-RMAC recognition.
In his first year at the helm (2001-02), Orser, who arrived on campus just two months prior to the start of the season, led the Orediggers to a 5-21 overall record (3-16 RMAC).
Prior to his arrival in Golden, Orser spent one season as the assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Montana.
Orser's previous coaching experience includes a four-year stint at Northwest College (Wyoming), where he served as the head coach of the women's program and also as an assistant with the men's team. Also a physical education instructor at Northwest, Orser was named the 1999-00 WCCAC Women's Coach of the Year after his women's team compiled a program-record 22 victories during his fourth and final season, marking a 20-game improvement from his first year at the helm.
In addition to spending two seasons as the assistant men's basketball coach and the assistant sports information director at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, Orser served for three years as the assistant coach for the Montana State University - Billings men's basketball team.
A graduate of Gardiner High School in Gardiner, Montana, Orser was selected as the Class C State MVP as a senior in 1985. Orser lettered all four years at MSU - Billings, leading the Yellowjackets to a pair of NCAA Division II tournament appearances and a trip to the 1986-87 NCAA Division II Final Four. MSU - Billings won more than 80 games during Orser's collegiate career. Following his senior season, Orser garnered Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades.
Orser received his undergraduate degree in business administration with minors in economics and history from Eastern Montana College (now MSU-Billings) in 1990 before earning his master's degree in education from Montana State University - Billings in 1995.
He and his wife, Yulia, have two sons, Zachary and Jeremy. The Orsers makes their residence in Golden.
