Robert "Bobby" Rinard will begin his first season as head baseball coach at Seminole State College of Florida in 2027, becoming just the third head coach in Raider Baseball history following the retirement of longtime coach Mike Nicholson. Rinard brings 13 years of collegiate coaching experience and arrives in Sanford after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Utah during the 2026 season.
Prior to Utah, Rinard spent 11 seasons at Utah Tech University, including his final two years as associate head coach. During his tenure, he helped guide the Trailblazers through their transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, contributing to a conference championship, three NCAA Regional appearances, and 283 program victories. As recruiting coordinator and position coach, he played a key role in developing numerous all-conference, all-region, and All-America student-athletes.
At Utah, Rinard worked with the Utes' catchers, served as first base coach, and helped the program post one of its strongest offensive seasons in recent history. The team produced four Big 12 All-Conference selections, two MLB Draft picks, and ranked among the nation's top 25 teams in batting average.
A native of South Bend, Indiana, Rinard played collegiately at Yavapai College and the University of Arizona. He earned All-Conference honors at Yavapai before helping Arizona reach two NCAA Regional tournaments. Following his collegiate career, he was drafted by the New York Mets in 2009 and later signed with the New York Yankees organization, playing three professional seasons before entering the coaching profession.
Rinard earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in 2014. He and his wife, Francesca, are excited to become part of the Seminole State community as he begins leading the next chapter of Raider Baseball.
