Colorado School of Mines Athletics

Sport Contact For: Volleyball, M. Soccer, W. Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, Baseball

Sam Boender came to Mines as the Assistant Director for Athletic Communications in January of 2018 and serves as the primary sport contact for volleyball, men’s soccer, cross country, women’s basketball, track & field and baseball.
 
In his first months with the Orediggers, Boender assisted in the coverage and promotion of the Mines Men’s Track & Field team as they swept the indoor and outdoor RMAC titles on the way to a historic RMAC Triple Crown (XC, ITF, OTF). He also covered and promoted a historic season for the Mines Baseball team as the Orediggers completed a record-setting campaign that included the program’s first berth in the NCAA Tournament with 23 records tied or broken and 56 total entries into the baseball record book. Boender’s coverage also included the promotion of consensus First-Team All-American and South Central Regional Player of the Year, Mikey Gangwish.
 
Prior to Mines, Boender worked at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas with stints as the school’s first-ever Athletics Media Relations Assistant and Assistant Director of Athletics Communications from July 2015 until January 2018. He played a key role on the staff voted 2016-17 Scott Puryear SID Office of the Year as the top media relations division in the Heartland Conference, hosting 115 home athletics events while providing publicity for six NCAA Tournament appearances across the department.
 
During his time at SEU, Boender served as the primary sport contact for volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, cross country, women’s basketball, tennis and baseball. He also coordinated social media strategy for all 13 varsity teams and expanded the Hilltoppers’ reach to include video and digital content.
 
Boender earned his master’s degree in sport management from Western Illinois University in 2015. He also worked as the primary athletic communications contact for men’s soccer, track & field, cross country and baseball. Boender received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wartburg College (Iowa) in 2011 where worked as a student assistant in the sports information office from 2007-11.
 
A native of Hickman, Neb., Boender’s experience also includes stints in sports radio, television, public address announcing, student life and higher education. He currently resides in Golden.