R.D. Spiehs - Associate Head Baseball Coach - Baseball Coaches - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

R.D. Spiehs

Title:
Associate Head Baseball Coach
Email:
randall.spiehs@unco.edu
Phone:
970.351.1203

R.D. Spiehs was promoted to Associate Head Coach on August 20, 2015 by Head Coach Carl Iwasaki to. During his time with UNC, Spiehs has helped lead the Bears to the 2013 Great West Conference title, assisted in the transition to the Western Athletic Conference, and guided them to the first WAC tournament appearance. As the programs's liason to academic advising, he has been pivotal in the teams 12 consecutive semesters with a culmulative GPA above 3.0.

Spiehs took over the pitching coach duties for Northern Colorado Baseball in August 2011. Under his leadership, the Bears overall ERA dropped from to 6.72 to 5.07.In addition to the lowest ERA in over a decade, the Bears pitching staff also allowed just 3.71 walks per game and opponents hit just .293 – both the lowest mark since 2000.

Kevin Willman shattered the school’s single season record for saves with 10 and earned Great West All-Conference First Team honors in the final season of the league in 2013. Spiehs also saw Jake Johnson earn back-to-back Great West All-Tournament honors for his stellar performances on the mound.

Spiehs helped Nick Tanner earn second team All-WAC honors in 2016 when he posted a 2.89 ERA and 4-1 record as he held opponents to .245 hitting agianst him.

In 2017, Bear pitching was an integral part of the team's 24 win season and third place finish at the conference tournament. The Spiehs led Bear pitching staff finished second in the WAC tournament in ERA and senior reliever Jacob Howard was awarded WAC Pitcher of the Week honors (5/8-5/15).

Spiehs joined the Bears from Grayson County College, a highly successful junior college in Sherman, Texas. During his two years at Grayson he guided four players to Major League Draft selections, as well as having five pitchers signed with NCAA Division I programs. He also helped lead the team to the NJCAA World Series in 2011.

Prior to Grayson, Spiehs was an undergraduate assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska. During the 2009 season, he was the bullpen correspondent and assisted with pitching coach duties.

Spiehs spent seven years as a professional baseball player, pitching in 329 games with a 3.76 career ERA. He was named the San Francisco Giants 2011 best late round draft pick, one of 30 eligible for the award.

While pitching for the Huskers, Spiehs helped lead the team to the NCAA Super Regionals and contributed to the team's first appearance at the College World Series. He still ranks among the top 10 in Nebraska history in victories and pitching appearances. He returned to Nebraska to finish his degree in communications in 2009.

He is married to the former Jennifer Benson of Huntington Beach, Calif. Benson is also a Nebraska graduate, where she earned First-Team All-America honors in soccer before she played with both the United States National Team and professionally in the WUSA. Spiehs and his wife currently reside in West Greeley.