CONCORDIABULLDOGS.COM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Athletics
Job Titles:
- Assistant Volleyball Coach
Angie Boldt was named an assistant on her husband Ben's staff in December of 2017. In addition to her coaching role, Angie instructs classes and assists in athletic communications. The first six seasons of Bulldog Volleyball under the Boldts' direction have resulted in a 127-47 combined overall record and five national tournament appearances.
Angie helped lead the 2023 team to a share of the GPAC regular season title with a school record 14 conference victories. The '23 squad rose to No. 1 in the NAIA coaches' poll (two separate polls) and extended the program's run of consecutive appearances at the national tournament final site to five. Bree Burtwistle was recognized as the GPAC Setter of the Year and was joined by Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer with first team all-conference accolades. The conference championship marked the first for the program since 2000.
In year five (2022), the Concordia volleyball team finished with a 25-6 overall record and finsihed the season ranked #4 in the nation. The rise to No. 4 in 2022 represented the highest national ranking in program history at the time. Concordia was included in the NAIA top 10 in every poll released during the 2022 regular season. It also claimed 13 wins over teams that qualified for the national tournament. Three Concordia players landed on the NAIA All-America list: middle Gabi Nordaker (second team), outside hitter Camryn Opfer (second team) and setter Bree Burtwistle (honorable mention). Angie was named the West Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year by the AVCA.
In year three and four (2020-21), the Concordia Volleyball program again ascended to heights it had not previously reached. For the first time in school history, the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals in a run that included a win at Xavier University of New Orleans and NAIA pool play victories over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and defending national champion Marian (Ind.). The Bulldogs went 18-5 overall, finished ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, placed third in the GPAC regular season standings, won seven matches over teams that finished in the top 25 and went 7-0 versus in-state opponents. Then in 2021, Boldt steadied a team that had endured a series of five-set losses and steered the Bulldogs to the national quarterfinals for a second year in a row. The '21 squad earned a No. 6 postseason national ranking (best in school history) and appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match. Then in 2022, Concordia continued that momentum while rising as high as No. 4 in the NAIA coaches' poll, representing a new high watermark for the program. The Bulldogs went 25-6 overall and finished one win shy of a third straight appearance in the national quarterfinals. Both the '21 and '22 teams appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Head Baseball Coach
Ben Berg immediately transitioned into a coaching role following five years as a student-athlete within the Concordia Baseball program. Ben is the second Berg brother to serve as a coach on Ryan Dupic's staff, following Bryce Berg, current Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitting Coordinator. In the fall of 2023, Coach Ben Berg was promoted to the role of Assistant Head Baseball Coach.
Ben's coaching experience began prior to his current role. Berg previously assisted the Johnston High School (Iowa) program for two seasons and spent a summer as head coach of the Carroll Merchants of the MINK League.
Named Concordia's 2022-23 Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Berg held down the catcher spot and appeared in 186 games from the 2019 through 2023 seasons. As a member of four national tournament teams and three that won GPAC championships, Berg earned three career GPAC All-Conference awards, including first team accolades in 2023. He was also recognized as the GPAC's 2023 Gold Glove catcher and picked up second team all-conference honors in 2021 and was named honorable mention in 2022. As a Bulldog, Berg batted .321 (193-for-602) for his career with 55 runs, 39 doubles, 27 home runs, 148 RBIs and a .523 slugging percentage. Behind the plate, Berg broke school records for fielding percentage (.992) and career putouts (1,385). The native of Carroll, Iowa, played a prominent role for the 2021 Concordia squad that made a historic run to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
A four-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete who achieved a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average, Berg graduated from Concordia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a focus in Secondary Education and Physical Education. This past spring, Berg was named an Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators. He saved his best season for his last as he batted .406 (79-for-192) in 2023 while adding 19 runs, 16 doubles and 50 RBIs to go along with a .486 on-base percentage, .652 slugging percentage and .995 fielding percentage. Off the field, Berg has worked as a volunteer with People's City Mission in Lincoln, helped tutor education majors, served as a member of the Bulldog Council of Student-Athletes and was a three-year Champions of Character representative at the national tournament. He was also honored as the SHAPE Nebraska 2022 PE Major of the Year and earned status on the Concordia honors list every semester.
Ben is pursuing his master's degree in Athletic Administration. He is the son of Rod and Angie Berg. Ben's three brothers, Bryce, Casey and Kyle, have each been involved in the Concordia Baseball program in either a coach or player capacity.
Ben Boldt was named Concordia University's head volleyball coach in December of 2017. In six seasons leading the Bulldogs, Boldt owns an overall record of 127-47. His 100th career win at Concordia came on Nov. 9, 2022, with a five-set victory at No. 3 Midland in the GPAC tournament semifinals.
Boldt led the 2023 team to a share of the GPAC regular season title with a school record 14 conference victories. The '23 squad rose to No. 1 in the NAIA coaches' poll (two separate polls) and extended the program's run of consecutive appearances at the national tournament final site to five. Bree Burtwistle was recognized as the GPAC Setter of the Year and was joined by Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer with first team all-conference accolades. The conference championship marked the first for the program since 2000.
Job Titles:
- Head Men 's Basketball Coach
Ben Limback was officially named head men's basketball coach at Concordia University in March of 2013. Limback completed his 10th season as head coach at his alma mater in 2022-23.
In year nine, Limback led the Bulldogs to one of the finest seasons in program history. Concordia shared the GPAC regular season title (first in program history), won the conference tournament and proceeded to reach the NAIA National Quarterfinals. As part of the 2021-22 journey, a dramatic alley-oop layup at the buzzer to beat Briar Cliff appeared on multiple ESPN shows. The Bulldogs won three national tournament games and wound up with 28 wins for the third most in a single season in school history. The 15 conference wins broke the program's single season record. Carter Kent garnered NAIA Second Team All-America and First Team All-GPAC honors while leading the way. Gage Smith also landed on the GPAC's first team while Justin Wiersema was named second team. Noah Schutte earned NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship All-Tournament recognition. As a show of the team's strong character that shined through at the national tournament, Concordia was recognized with the Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Team Sportsmanship Award.
Prior to the 2022 run, Limback returned the Bulldogs to the national tournament in 2020 with a thrilling postseason push that included a win at 11th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan in the GPAC tournament championship game. Concordia went 24-10 overall in 2019-20, placed fourth in the GPAC regular-season standings and was rewarded with a No. 7 seed in the NAIA Division II tournament, which took place in Sioux Falls, S.D. Point guard Brevin Sloup earned first team all-conference accolades while Kent landed on the second team. Then in 2020-21, the Bulldogs placed in a tie for third in the GPAC, marking the program's highest regular season finish since 2004-05. The team's 14 GPAC wins equaled a school record at the time. Wiersema garnered first team All-GPAC honors. A national tournament at-large berth in 2023 gave the program back-to-back national tournament appearances and three in the past four seasons.
Under Limback, the Bulldogs improved their win total each season from 2013-17 while leading up to a 21-victory season in 2016-17. Led by second team All-American Chandler Folkerts, the 2016-17 team broke the school single-season record for scoring average (88.7) and finished with the program's most wins since the 2004-05 campaign (until winning 24 in 2019-20). The 2016-17 squad also toppled five nationally-ranked teams and captured the CIT championship. It was the third CIT title at CUNE for Limback. The 2017-18 Bulldogs went 17-13 overall for a fourth-straight winning season. Limback reached 200 career coaching victories with a triumph at Waldorf University on Nov. 19, 2018.
Limback, a 1999 Concordia graduate and native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, spent nine years as the head coach at CU-Ann Arbor prior to taking over in Seward. Limback, who also served as the school's director of admissions from 2010-12 and its athletics director from 2009-2011, is the Cardinals' all-time winningest men's basketball head coach with 115 victories. He earned Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and was recognized as the WHAC Champions of Character Coach by the NAIA in both 2009 and 2010. In 2007, Limback led CU-Ann Arbor to its first-ever Concordia Invitational Tournament title. In 2014 Limback became the first coach in CIT history to win championships at two different schools.
Prior to becoming CU-Ann Arbor's head coach, Limback filled the role of assistant coach for three seasons from 2000-2003 at NCAA Division II Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill., where he was tutored by current NCAA Division I Evansville University head coach Marty Simmons. That coaching stop was preceded by a one-year stint with Concordia-Nebraska for the 1999-2000 season under 23-year head coach Grant Schmidt.
From 1995-99, Limback donned the Bulldog jersey as a player for Coach Schmidt. As a senior during the 1998-99 season, he earned Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors and was named the Nebraska State College Player of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald. In addition, he twice received both NAIA honorable mention All-America (1998 and 1999) and NAIA Academic All-America (1998 and 1999) accolades. He was a member of Bulldog teams that advanced to the national tournament on three separate occasions.
Upon graduation from Concordia, Limback received his bachelor's degree in psychology and physical education. He went on to earn his Master of Science degree in kinesiology from SIU-Edwardsville in 2002.
Limback and his wife Kelley have four children: Leighton, Malachi, Kennedy and Emerson.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance, Assistant Track & Field Coach
Hinckfoot earned high praise for his work at CUI, where he began his service as a graduate assistant in 2017 before being promoted to a full-time role. At CUI, Hinckfoot worked under Head Coach Keegan Bloomfield, another CUNE alum. In his time with the Eagles, Hinckfoot coached athletes who combined for 14 school records and two All-America awards. In a release on the CUI website, Bloomfield described Hinckfoot as an "amazing coach and an even better person." In his first semester with the Bulldogs, Hinckfoot helped the women's program win a GPAC title and place third at the NAIA outdoor national meet. The women repeated as GPAC champs in 2022 and 2023 for both indoor and outdoor. Hinckfoot has worked with jumps All-Americans in Wyatt Loga and Amy Richert at CUNE. Richert won 2023 GPAC titles in the pentathlon and heptathlon.
Not only did Hinckfoot collect seven All-America honors as a Bulldog athlete, he also racked up four GPAC event titles, 17 all-conference finishes and two CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team selections. He continues to own the program record in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 52.14. At the time of graduation, Hinckfoot also stood at No. 1 on the school's all-time list as part of an outdoor 4x400 meter relay team (now No. 2). Hinckfoot earned his All-America plaques in the 110 hurdles (twice), 400 hurdles (twice) and 4x4 (three times). With Hinckfoot leading the way, the Concordia men swept GPAC indoor/outdoor team titles in 2014. Hinckfoot was coached most closely by Samuels. Dr. Kregg Einspahr served as head coach during Hinckfoot's athletic career (2011-14).
Hinckfoot graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. He earned his Master of Science in Coaching and Exercise Science from Concordia University, Irvine in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Football Coach
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Byron Dean joined the Concordia University Men's Basketball staff as Graduate Assistant Coach beginning with the 2022-23 academic year. Dean arrived at Concordia after a standout career as an NAIA basketball student-athlete. Dean helped Concordia reach the 2023 NAIA National Championship tournament.
A native of Nashville, Tenn., Dean totaled more than 1,000 career points during his collegiate career at Lakeland University. He was named both an Honorable Mention All-American and an Academic All-American while leading his team to the semifinals of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship. Outside of his playing career, Dean spent three-straight summers coaching the AAU "Team Curry."
Dean graduated from Lakeland with a degree in Business Administration. He is currently pursuing his master's in Sports Administration from Concordia. Byron's father, Byron Sr., played college football at Auburn University and had a stint with the Dallas Cowboys.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Chase Clasen was introduced as Concordia University Wrestling Head Coach in April 2022. He arrived in Seward after serving as Interim Head Coach at North Idaho College. Said Clasen, "I'd like to thank God and Concordia University for this great opportunity. I have big goals for the program and envision Concordia University as a place where student-athletes can grow as young men, be positive role models in the community, earn a degree and achieve their wrestling goals."
In his first season leading the Bulldogs, Clasen helped the program make significant improvement as it went from sixth place in the GPAC in 2022 to third place (regular season and tournament) in 2023. Clasen's first Concordia team equaled a program record for dual wins in a single season (13) and qualified four competitors for the national tournament. Issiah Burks became Clasen's first GPAC champion in winning the 165-pound conference title.
Clasen spent the 2021-22 academic year at North Idaho College (NJCAA), where he was elevated to the interim head coach role prior to the start of the wrestling season. He led the Cardinals to an NJCAA National Championship finish of seventh place on the strength of six All-America performances. North Idaho also placed fourth at the 2022 NJCAA National Duals and finished as the West Conference runner up.
Prior to his time at North Idaho, Clasen served as graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Chadron State College, in Chadron, Neb. As part of his position, Clasen filled an academic advising and student-athlete mentorship role. He helped develop five All-Americans for the Eagles.
As a student-athlete, Clasen excelled both on the mat and in the classroom. His collegiate career began at Iowa Western Community College where he earned an associate degree in Social Science. Clasen then made his mark at Chadron State as a 2020 NCAA Division II All-American and two-time national qualifier. He also was a conference champion and a two-time conference finalist at 149 pounds. Clasen was also recognized as a Scholar All-American by the NWCA and landed on the dean's list.
Clasen earned his undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/Academic Studies from Chadron State in 2020. He proceeded to complete his Master of Science in Organizational Management from Chadron State.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Lifting Sports and Strength & Conditioning Coach
Corby Osten finished his 16th season as an assistant coach with the Concordia University football program in 2023. Following the 2016 campaign, Osten received a promotion to the position of Defensive Coordinator on Head Coach Patrick Daberkow's staff. A native of Columbus, Neb., Osten continues to also coach the defensive line.
Osten's first year as defensive coordinator yielded three first team All-GPAC selections in defensive backs D'Mauria Martin and Tarence Roby and linebacker Lane Napier. The defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring and pass efficiency. Then in 2018, Napier led all NAIA players with 142 tackles and was again named a first team all-conference selection. Napier is also a four-time AFCA All-American (first team in 2021 and second team in 2020) and a 2018 first team All-America selection by the Associated Press. Prior to Napier (2018-20), Tarence Roby (2017) and Trey Barnes (2015, 2016) were also named NAIA All-Americans by the AFCA. Napier closed his career with 535 career tackles and was named the 2021 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. The defense played a key role in Concordia's six-game win streak to conclude the 2021 season.
As defensive line coach, Osten has overseen the development of all-conference performers such as Trey Barnes, Dylan Heithoff, Devon Polley, Kyle Rakow, Aaron Rudloff, Erik Small and Kyle Sterup in recent seasons. Barnes earned second team All-America recognition in 2015 while leading the nation's fourth-ranked defense (279.6 yards allowed per game). Barnes then moved up to first team All-America recognition the following season. Barnes and Heithoff were both first team all-conference selections.
Osten previously led a Concordia special teams unit that ranked among the nation's best in 2012. The Bulldogs' Derek Blessing led the NAIA with 388 punt return yards and three punt return touchdowns and kicker Kenny Zoeller racked up the second most field goals nationally with 15. As a team, Concordia ranked fourth in the NAIA in average yards per punt return (16.6) and 11th in average yards per kick return (22.9). Adam Meirose replaced Zoeller in 2013 and twice earned all-conference accolades, giving Concordia a first or second team all-league kicker for three-straight seasons.
As a player, Osten was a three-year letter winner on the Bulldog Football team. Osten helped the Bulldogs to the 2001 GPAC Championship. Concordia advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs during the 2001 campaign. That '01 squad was inducted into the Concordia Atheltic Hall of Fame in 2022.
Osten was defensive coordinator and junior varsity head coach at Lutheran South Academy (Houston, Texas) from 2004-07. He also spent one year as defensive coordinator at Lincoln Lutheran in 2008.
Osten attended Concordia University from 1999-2003. He received his bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with endorsements in Theology and Physical Education. Corby resides in Seward with his wife Amanda, daughter Isla and sons Tyce and Jaxx.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Volleyball Coach
Following her collegiate career with a GPAC rival school, Corina Beimers joined the Concordia University Volleyball coaching staff as Graduate Assistant Coach. She helped the Bulldogs reach the final site of the national tournament in 2022 and 2023 while rising as high as No. 1 in the NAIA coaches' poll in 2023. The '23 squad also shared the GPAC regular season title.
A two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Beimers played setter and helped Dordt University advance to the semifinals of the 2020 NAIA National Championships and then reach the national tournament again in 2021. Beimers transferred to Dordt after beginning her collegiate career at Fairleigh Dickinson University (N.J.). While at Fairleigh Dickinson, Beimers achieved Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll status in 2018 and 2019 and was twice named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
As a health and human performance student, Corina earned a degree in Exercise Science from Dordt. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach - Kickers / Punters / Long Snappers
Alma Mater: Concordia University, Nebraska
Courtney Meyer continues to serve Concordia football as an assistant coach following a 19-year run as Bulldog Head Coach from 1990 to 2008. Meyer retired his position as head coach with a record of 70-115-1, making him the program's all-time winningest coach in terms of number of victories.
Meyer's best season at the helm of Bulldog football came in 2001 when Concordia set a school record for wins with a 10-2 campaign that included a GPAC co-championship and berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Bulldogs defeated St. Ambrose (Iowa) 31-26 in the first round before falling, 34-10, in the quarterfinals at the hands of Sioux Falls. The '01 team was inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.
In his current role coaching kickers and punters, Meyer helped 2013 graduate Kenny Zoeller develop into an All-American in 2012. Zoeller made 15 of 20 field goal attempts and 27 of 28 extra point tries in 2012. Zoeller's replacement, Adam Meirose, received second team all-conference laurels in 2013 and first team accolades as a junior in 2014. Meyer also worked closely with all-conference punter Korrell Koehlmoos (2022).
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
Job Titles:
- Athletics Administration
- Director of Athletics
Devin Smith returned to his alma mater as Director of Athletics in June of 2010. Smith, a member of the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame, graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska in 1992 with a bachelor of arts in sports management. He later received his masters of education in sport administration and physical education from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1998.
In a decade of overseeing the Bulldog athletics department, Smith has helped steer Concordia back to the top of the GPAC. Named the GPAC Athletic Director of the Year twice (2014-15 and 2019-20), Smith's work led to the Bulldogs claiming the 2014-15 GPAC all-sports trophy (third all-sports trophy in school history). During his tenure, Concordia has won a combined 37 GPAC titles between the sports of baseball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, men's and women's soccer, softball and men's and women's basketball. The Bulldogs have also captured three NAIA national championships: men's outdoor track and field (2015), women's outdoor track and field (2016) and women's basketball (2019). There have been 47 NAIA top 25 national team finishes over the past decade and four NAIA national runner-up claims. In addition, Concordia has continued to lead all NAIA schools in number of all-time scholar-athletes.
The 1991-92 Concordia Male Senior Athlete of the Year, Smith has helped in the process of expanding and improving Concordia's first-rate athletic facilities. The upgrades have included a complete overhaul of the Physical Education Building, which includes a brand new weight room, refurbished gymnasium, wrestling practice facility and coaches' offices. In addition, the athletic department has been fortified with the creation of numerous full-time staff positions. Smith's tenure has seen the addition of competitive dance, competitive cheer and shooting sports as varsity sports. The student-athlete population rose from under 500 in 2010 to more than 700 by 2018. Smith has helped increase their exposure by putting Concordia Athletics on radio airwaves as part of a collaboration that began in 2015-16 with 104.9 Max Country.
As Athletic Director, Smith has represented Concordia as an administrative liaison to the GPAC in the sports of cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field since 2015. In addition, he has served on the GPAC Conduct and Ethics Committee, as an NAIA National Administrative Council member and as part of a working group with NAIA Return on Athletics (ROA).
Prior to his return to Concordia, Smith served as Athletic Director at Rockford Lutheran High School for eight years. During that time he also coached the varsity boy's basketball program at Rockford Lutheran. While there, Smith mentored an athletic department of 20 high school and 14 junior high school sports programs. He coordinated fundraisers for a track facility and weight room improvements. His run as Rockford Lutheran AD included 15 Big Northern Conference titles, 24 IHSA regional titles, six IHSA sectional titles, four third-place finishes at IHSA state tournaments and one IHSA state tournament championship.
As a varsity boy's basketball coach, Smith compiled a record of 90-46 overall with three regional titles over a five-year span. Smith developed 20 all-conference performers and four Illinois Basketball Coaches' Association (IBCA) all-state players. Smith has also held coaching positions as assistant men's basketball coach (Concordia), head men's soccer coach (Concordia), head boy's basketball coach (Southern High School), assistant men's basketball coach (Bethany Lutheran Junior College) and assistant track and field coach (Rockford Lutheran) throughout his career.
In addition, Smith has taught classes in physical education at the high school and collegiate levels. He worked in human performance at Concordia from 1994-99 and later taught at both Southern High School and Rockford Lutheran. As an assistant men's basketball coach under Grant Schmidt, Smith simultaneously served sports information and game management roles in addition to his teaching.
Throughout his career, Smith has been recognized for numerous individual awards. Not only was he inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame and named senior athlete of the year, he has been tabbed IBCA District 10 Co-Coach of the Year (2009), Rockford Register Coach of the Year (2003) and Private School League Co-Coach of the Year (2003). In 2016, Smith received induction into the Anselmo-Merna Heigh School Athletics Hall of Fame as part of his alma mater's inaugural class.
During his distinguished athletic career, Smith piled up 1,659 points and was a 1992 NAIA All-America selection for Coach Schmidt's Bulldogs. Smith led his squad to the national tournament semifinals in 1992 after the program's first-ever national tournament appearance in 1991. He also was an all-conference and all-district performer in track and field.
Devin is married to Michelle. They have two children, Elijah and Addison.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Golf Coach
Job Titles:
- Head Women 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Head Shooting Sports Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field Coach - Throws
- Member of the Concordia University
Ed McLaughlin completed his 26th year as a member of the Concordia University track and field coaching staff in 2022-23, serving as an assistant coach and working with the throwers. He also assists with the multi-event athletes.
McLaughlin has tutored 19 individual national champions, 267 individual national qualifiers, 174 All-Americans, 63 GPAC champions and 24 national champion runners up. National titles have been captured by Jacob Cornelio (2020 weight throw, 2021 hammer throw), Samantha Liermann (2017, 2018 and 2019 shot put), Adrianna Shaw (2018 and 2019 discus), Zach Lurz (four times in the shot put), Liz King (2016 hammer, 2014 javelin), Cody Boellstorff (2015/2017 hammer, 2016/2017 weight), Josh Slechta (2015 weight throw) and Elizabeth Stottlemyre (2021 javelin). In addition, school throwing records have been broken more than 30 times in McLaughlin's tenure as coach. McLaughlin has earned plenty of recognition during while leading the nationally respected Bulldog throws program. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has named McLaughlin an NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year six times and an NAIA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year 11 times.
Job Titles:
- Head Competitive Cheer Coach / Athletic Department Ticket Coordinator
Emilie Ashenbach joined the Concordia University Cheer and Dance staff beginning with the 2019-20 academic year. In January 2024, Ashenbach was promoted to the position of Head Competitive Cheer Coach. She also continues to assist the Bulldog Dance program. Ashenbach previously spent four years on the Midland University Competitive Cheer team, helping the Warriors win GPAC titles each season from 2013-17.
In the summer of 2021, Ashenbach was promoted from a graduate assistant to a full-time role as Assistant Cheer & Dance Coach. She helped the Bulldogs improve considerably in 2021 when they increased their competition scores significantly compared to the previous seasons. She helped the Bulldogs again improve their performance scores throughout the 2022 and 2023 competition seasons. The cheer and dance teams have continually broken program records for the highest competition scores in Bulldog History. In 2022, the cheer program set a then-school standard for the highest score in a performance, while Shelby Timmerman became the first All-GPAC award winner in Concordia Cheer history. The 2023 teams combined for five All-GPAC honorees, including Ryleigh Flesner, an NAIA Second Team All-American. In addition to coaching, Emilie also serves Concordia Athletics as the Athletic Department Ticketing Coordinator.
While a Warrior, Ashenbach twice earned All-America status in cheer. She earned top three finishes at three NAIA National Championships and two NCA National Championships in Daytona, Fla. She graduated from Midland with a bachelor's of Human Performance Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching. Ashenbach earned a master's in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia.
Emilie is the daughter of Brett and Lisa Ashenbach. She has a sister named Mikaela.
A former Bulldog starter, Evan Bohman joined the Concordia Baseball coaching staff beginning with the 2023 season. Bohman assisted with the 2023 squad that reached the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
During his career as a student-athlete, Bohman played during the 2018 through 2021 seasons and appeared in 146 games. He batted .281 with a .370 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, he accumulated 78 runs, 117 hits, 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 73 RBIs. He was part of teams that reached the national tournament in 2019 and 2021. The '21 squad made history while reaching the NAIA World Series.
Bohman's coaching experience includes one season (2021-22) as graduate assistant coach at Benedictine College. He also spent the summer of 2023 as bench coach for the Lakeshore Chinooks of the Northwoods League.
Evan earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Concordia. He is the son of Robert and Michele and has a brother Erik. Evan is a sports card enthusiast.
Job Titles:
- Head Lifting Sports Coach / Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach / Head Junior Varsity Coach
Grady Koch immediately began his coaching career following his collegiate playing career as a Bulldog. In the summer of 2021, Koch was promoted to a full-time position as Assistant Football Coach/Head Junior Varsity Coach. Koch has coached an offensive line that produced First Team All-GPAC center Johnny Robinson III in 2021, Second Team All-GPAC offensive tackle Kaden Peters in 2022 and Second Team All-GPAC guard Tyler Walford.
Koch previously served Concordia as a graduate assistant coach with a special focus on coaching the offensive line. The 2021-22 academic year represented Koch's third season on the coaching staff. The native of Doniphan, Neb., graduated from Concordia in 2019 with degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. He went on to earn his M.S. in Athletic Administration. Since the start of his coaching career, Koch has helped the Bulldogs break numerous offensive records, including a new standard for total yards per game in 2023.
Throughout his collegiate career, Koch started on the offensive line as a guard and tackle. He was named Honorable Mention All-GPAC and Honorable Mention Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska as both a junior and senior. During Koch's junior season, he helped pave the way for running back Ryan Durdon to pile up 1,247 rushing yards. The Bulldogs finished the 2017 season at 6-4 overall.
The Doniphan, Neb., native is the son of Bill and Michelle Koch. His sister Madison also graduated from Concordia and was a member of the Bulldog Dance team.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach With the Concordia Football
- Assistant Football Coach
Greg Nelson began his time as an assistant coach with the Concordia Football program during the spring of 2023. He works with the team's quarterbacks. He helped DJ McGarvie rise to Second Team All-GPAC honors in 2023 for an offense that averaged more than 30 points per game.
Nelson and the Concordia program enjoyed an already strong relationship with Lincoln Lutheran High School having sent six players to Seward during Nelson's nine-year tenure as head coach of the Warriors. Nelson transformed the Lincoln Lutheran football program, which had experienced one winning season in the decade prior to his hiring. His Lincoln Lutheran teams qualified for the state playoffs five times, advanced past the first round on three occasions and reached the semifinals once. Each of Nelson's final seven Warrior squads produced winning records. In addition, Nelson coached 18 players who went on to play college football (including six Bulldogs). Prior to taking on the head job at Lincoln Lutheran, Nelson served as an assistant coach at Lincoln East High School (2010-13) and Lincoln North Star High School (2009) and was a student assistant (tight ends) for the University of Nebraska (2005-08) while helping the Cornhuskers win a Big 12 championship. In total, he's coached for eight state playoff squads.
Nelson's coaching career has paralleled his time working at Hudl, where he's been since 2010. Currently, Nelson holds the title of Senior Vice President and General Manager for Competitive Business. In that role, Nelson works closely with high school and club sports while strategizing across every department to ensure Hudl achieves its goals and serves its customers' needs.
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Communications
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field Coach - Pole Vault
Alma Mater: Concordia University, Nebraska
Jason Berry has helped with the Concordia Track & Field program for many years, working primarily with pole vault. Berry helped the Bulldogs win team national titles in 2015 (outdoor men) and 2016 (outdoor women).
Jason attended Concordia University from 1989-1994. He was a three-time conference champion and a two-time District 11 champion in the pole vault. He qualified for nationals three times and earned Booster Club Athlete-of-the-Week honors three times during the 1993 season.
Since returning to Concordia in 2008, Berry has coached 122 NAIA National Qualifiers, 48 NAIA All-Americans, six national champions, 27 GPAC champions and school record holder Josie Puelz (indoor/outdoor pole vault). Concordia women's pole vaulters went on a recent run during which they won six conference titles in a row. That dominance resumed in 2019 with Brooks (indoor) and Erin Mapson (outdoor) winning conference titles. Since then, Puelz has won six GPAC titles and Zach Bennetts swept 2022 GPAC indoor/outdoor championships. Puelz has become a major star having swept NAIA indoor/outdoor national titles in 2021 and 2022 while adding an indoor championship in 2023 and also breaking the GPAC meet record at the 2021 outdoor conference championships. Lucas Wiechman broke through with a pole vault national title at the 2017 outdoor national championships. In the final NAIA event squad ratings for 2019, the Bulldogs ranked No. 1 in the pole vault for both men and women. The women's program again reigned atop the event squad rankings in 2021 and 2022 and hovered near the top in 2023.
From 1999-2007, Jason was a volunteer assistant coach and meet official at Concordia University. During those years, he helped coach seven NAIA National Champions and dozens of All-Americans and conference champions.
From 1995-1998, Jason was an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University. During that time, he helped with the pole vault and decathlon. He coached six NCAA Division III national qualifiers and three D-III All-Americans in the pole vault.
Beginning in 2001, Berry served as volunteer pole vault coach at Seward High School. He coached two state champions, including his youngest son Chase (2017), 15 state medalists and 24 state qualifiers during that time.
Berry also organizes the Annual 4th of July Street Pole Vault competition that has been a fixture in the City of Seward's holiday activities since 1991. He has also helped with the Concordia University Pole Vault Camps since 1999. Additionally, Berry is the Vice President of Bottle Rocket Brewing LLC.
Jason lives in Seward with his wife Julie. They have three sons: Cole, Dalton and Chase. Cole lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife Hannah. Dalton is a former Concordia pole vaulter and currently serves as a zookeeper at Henry Doorly Zoo. Dalton and his wife Hope live in Omaha. Meanwhile, Chase is a current Bulldog and a two-time pole vault All-American.
Jason Weides completed his 16th season at the helm of the Bulldog men's soccer program in 2023. He spent several years as an assistant for the men's team before becoming head coach. Weides is 163-105-37 overall and 85-59-25 in the GPAC in his career.
The 2015 season marked a high point in Bulldog Men's Soccer history as Weides led the program to its first-ever GPAC title and first-ever national tournament appearance. Concordia accomplished those feats by knocking off each of the conference's top-three seeds on the road during its GPAC tournament run that culminated with a 1-0 upset of No. 19 Hastings in the championship game. The 2015 squad finished with an overall record of 11-7-3. The Bulldogs of 2022 reached similar highs under Weides' direction in winning the GPAC tournament and qualifying for the national tournament for a second time. The '22 side went 15-3-3 overall in arguably the greatest season in program history. Concordia spent nearly the entire season receiving votes in the NAIA national poll.
Weides is a native of Kearney, Neb. and an alumnus of Concordia. While attending school at Concordia, he played soccer and was a four-year letter winner for the Bulldogs. He a two-time all-conference selection.
Weides has been involved with Athletes in Action and the Seward County Soccer Club. He earned his bachelor's degree in Commercial Art from Concordia University in 2002. Jason and his wife Erin reside in Seward with their son Isaiah.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment
Kevin Crume joined the Concordia University Football staff in January 2023 after more than two decades as an assistant at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Crume served as the Prairie Wolves' Defensive Coordinator for the past 12 seasons. The Bellevue, Neb., native plays an especially important role in recruiting at Concordia.
A linebacker at Nebraska Wesleyan from 1999-2001, Crume quickly transitioned to a coaching role at his alma mater. Prior to taking on the Defensive Coordinator role, Crume coached the Prairie Wolves special teams and linebackers. Throughout his time in Lincoln, Crume tutored three All-American defensive players, two All-American specialists and 32 all-conference linebackers.
The defenses he coordinated were especially stout in 2012 and 2013. The '13 squad posted NAIA national rankings of fourth in scoring defense and 15th in total defense. Crume's 2012 unit led the NAIA in rush defense, allowing a school record low average of 66.0 yards per game. The 2012 defense turned in national rankings of eighth in total defense and 12th in scoring defense.
Also a Bellevue East High School alum, Crume earned three letters as a student-athlete at Nebraska Wesleyan. The former linebacker helped the 2000 squad win the GPAC regular season title. He graduated from Wesleyan with a degree in Health & Physical Education and went on to earn his Master of Arts in Management from Doane College in 2008.
Kevin and his wife Amanda have a son Brett and daughter Ava.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Women 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Director
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Graduate Assistant Track & Field Coach
Lia Guigui began her role as Graduate Assistant Track & Field Coach at Concordia University beginning with the fall semester of 2023. Guigui spent the previous year as a graduate assistant at another institution.
A native of Waialua, Hawaii, Guigui is familiar with the GPAC landscape having competed at Dakota Wesleyan University. As a Tiger, Guigui racked up a total of 10 GPAC all-conference awards between the high jump, long jump and 4x100 meter relay while appearing at 12 conference meets. She also qualified for the NAIA National Championships four times - twice for indoor and twice for outdoor.
Lia earned her B.A. in History and Criminal Justice with a minor in Behavioral Science from Dakota Wesleyan. She is pursuing her Master of Science in Athletic Administration with a concentration in College Athletic Administration. She is the daughter of Teresa Bechard. Lia has two brothers, Kealii and Mykal, and three sisters, Cydney, Gerry and Bethany.
Maddie Robinson began her role as Graduate Assistant Track & Field Coach at Concordia University at the start of the 2022-23 academic year. Robinson made the shift to coaching after an impressive throwing career at NAIA member Olivet Nazarene University.
As an athlete for the Tigers, Robinson earned three NAIA All-America awards between the shot put and hammer throws. Her list of accolades also includes a combined nine national qualifications (shot put, hammer and weight), four Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) shot put titles, 11 all-conference place finishes, two CCAC Field Athlete of the Year awards and four conference athlete of the week honors. The native of Sandwich, Ill., helped Olivet Nazarene win seven team CCAC championships. Robinson also competed for the Bulldogs during the 2023 indoor season and was an All-GPAC award winner and NAIA national qualifier.
Robinson graduated from ONU with degrees in Business Administration and Social Science Education. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration from Concordia. Maddie is the daughter of Rich and Monica Robinson. Maddie has two siblings, Josh and Jen, and a nephew Brayden.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Track & Field Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field / Cross Country Coach
Mark Samuels completed his 16th season as an assistant coach for the Concordia University track and field and cross country programs in 2022-23. Samuels works primarily with sprints, hurdles, middle distance and relays. He has helped the Bulldogs win team national titles in 2015 (men's outdoor) and 2016 (women's outdoor) and to a combined 15 GPAC team championships. He also works with the cross country teams.
During his tenure, Samuels has worked with numerous GPAC champions, All-Americans and national champions. Some of the latest examples include 2023 GPAC Women's Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year Adrianna Rodencal and multi-event GPAC champions Lucas Wiechman (2017) and Cody Williams (2018, 2019, 2021). Wiechman earned GPAC Performer of the Year for both indoor and outdoor in 2017. Williams did the same at the 2019 GPAC outdoor championships. In addition, Samuels helped tutor Jessica Deterding (pentathlon, heptathlon) and the women's 4x400 meter relays to school records in 2019. Then in 2020, Samuels aided in sophomore Rachel Battershell becoming the GPAC Female Athlete of the Year and the 400 meter national champion. Battershell repeated as national champion in the 400 at the 2021 NAIA indoor meet. New school records were turned in during the 2021 outdoor season by the women's 4x100 meter relay and by Emily Loy in the heptathlon. In thrilling moments at the 2022 NAIA outdoor national meet, the men's and women's 4x4's both reset program standards. Also noteworthy, standout freshman Jordan Koepke broke the GPAC meet record in the 400 hurdles and placed as the NAIA national runner up in the event. Battershell finished her career with 13 All-America awards. Outdoor records were broken in 2023 by Rodencal in the 100 hurdles and by the 4x1.
Samuels has been on staff for an unprecedented run of success for a program that's roster has grown significantly in recent seasons. Since Samuels joined the staff, Concordia has posted 25 combined top 10 national team finishes and 45 total top 25 national team finishes, in addition to the two team national championships. The women's track program possesses an active streak of nine-straight GPAC titles and recently claimed six-consecutive top five national meet finishes.
Samuels competed at Concordia from 2001-04. He was a four-time NAIA All-American and a four-time GPAC Champion. Samuels was the 2002 National Runner-Up in the 400 meter dash at the Indoor National Meet. For his efforts, Samuels was named 2002 GPAC Indoor Men's Athlete-of-the-Year. At the time of graduation, he held five school records, including individual indoor records in the 200 meter dash and 400 meter dash. He was also a member of record setting 4x400 meter relay teams in both indoor and outdoor seasons (relay records have since been broken).
Mark resides in Seward with his wife Kari, daughter Jordyn, son Landon, daughter Aspen and son Owen. In his spare time, Mark enjoys fishing, cycling and running.
Job Titles:
- Coach of the Concordia University
- Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach
Matt Beisel officially began his duties as head coach of the Concordia University cross country and track and field programs in June 2016. Beisel is a 1992 graduate of Concordia.
In seven seasons as head coach, Beisel has led his programs to considerable heights. Most recently, the Bulldog women's track program swept 2023 GPAC indoor and outdoor titles and placed sixth in the NAIA at the 2023 indoor national championships behind pole vault national champion Josie Puelz. Beisel is now a 10-time GPAC Coach of the Year (nine times for track and once for cross country) and an eight-time NAIA Midwest Region Women's Track & Field Coach of the Year (as selected by the USTFCCCA). The women's track and field program has won nine-straight GPAC titles while the 2019 women's cross country team broke through with a conference title and 12th-place national claim. Meanwhile, the Concordia men also placed as the 2019 GPAC indoor runners up. Other recent accomplishments on the men's side have included national place finishes of ninth at the 2019 NAIA indoor championships and 12th at the 2021 NAIA indoor championships. Beisel has led the track programs to a combined 14 NAIA top-10 national team finishes.
In his first season leading the track and field programs, Beisel helped guide the Bulldogs to men's national finishes of second for indoor and fifth for outdoor. Meanwhile, the Concordia women turned in national finishes of seventh for indoor and sixth for outdoor. Concordia athletes produced a total of 29 All-America awards, six national titles and 19 GPAC event championships in 2017. The All-America count rose to 37 in 2019 as both programs took a step forward (12 All-Americans at the 2020 indoor meet). From 2019 outdoor through 2022 outdoor, the women's program placed in the NAIA top five at six-consecutive national meets. Adrianna Rodencal swept GPAC indoor and outdor Athlete of the Year awards in 2023. Beisel also coached Emily Sievert to national championships appearances in cross country in 2016 and 2017. Then in 2021, Rylee Haecker, Calvin Rohde and Camden Sesna qualified for cross country nationals. Another distance performer, Taylor Grove won the GPAC 10,000 meter (2018) and 3,000 meter (2019) titles and qualified for nationals in the marathon in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2022, the men's cross country team placed second in the GPAC while the women earned an at-large bid to the national meet.
Beisel, who spent six years (2008 - 2013) as head track and field coach at Concordia University-Chicago (CUC), where he also served four years as assistant cross country coach, possesses 23 years of coaching experience. He shifted back to the collegiate ranks after having been the head track and field and cross country coach as well as a science teacher at Valley Lutheran High School in Phoenix, Ariz., from 2014 until moving back to Seward in 2016.
A former all-district runner and national qualifier as a Bulldog, Beisel represents an ideal fit at Concordia. In each of his previous coaching stops he built Christ-centered programs that improved tremendously under his guidance. Beisel inherited an NCAA Division III CUC track program of just 12 athletes. That number grew to 65 (largest roster in school history) by the end of his tenure. The three-time Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Coach of the Year guided the Cougar women to league titles in 2010 and 2012 and a runner-up finish at the 2012 outdoor conference meet. He coached 56 conference champions at CUC.
While at CUC, Beisel helped develop Antwon James into an All-American long jumper. As head coach of the Cougars, Beisel worked specifically with sprinters and relays groups and as high jump coach. He's spent many years avidly studying and coaching speed and power development of athletes, as well as mechanics.
Prior to his time at CUC, Beisel won three cross country state championships as head coach from 2000 - 2007 at Lutheran High School in Little Rock, Ark. His boys and girls teams swept Arkansas cross country state titles in 2003. Beisel's Lutheran High cross country and track programs recorded a total of seven top-five state championships finishes.
Everywhere he's been, Beisel has increased participation in cross country and track. At his most recent position at Valley Lutheran, he more than doubled the boys and girls numbers in two years. In his first season leading girls cross country in Phoenix, Beisel took the team to its first-ever state championships appearance in 2014. It then placed 10th in the state in 2015.
Beisel graduated from Concordia with a B.S. in Education. He went on to earn his M.S. in Science Education from the University of Iowa in 1997. Matt and his wife Jill have a daughter, Keegan, and son, Jonah.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant for Athletics and Health & Human Performance
Michael McIntyre completed his second season coaching goalkeepers for the Concordia Men's and Women's Soccer programs in 2023-24. As a collegiate athlete, McIntyre played keeper for NAIA member Trinity Christian College (Ill.).
McIntyre helped the Bulldog men win a GPAC tournament title and reach the national tournament in 2022. Keeper Gabriel Mendoza was named an honorable mention all-conference award winner. Then in 2023, Nolan Fuelberg (second team), Mendoza (HM) and Bradi Ore (HM) each received all-conference awards as keepers. The '23 men's team enjoyed an undefeated regular season while the women vaulted from seventh to second in the 2023 GPAC standings.
A native of Oak Lawn, Ill., McIntyre earned Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete honors in both baseball and soccer while competing for the Trolls. McIntyre's experience as a coach includes a run as the goalkeeper coach at Southside Baptist High School in 2019. McIntyre was an all-conference player during his own prep career at Southside Baptist.
McIntyre earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Sport Management from Trinity Christian. He is currently pursuing his MBA with a marketing focus at Concordia. Michael is married to Julie McIntyre.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Competitive Spirit Coordinator / Head Competitive Dance Coach
In 2022-23, Maser completed her seventh season leading the cheer and dance programs, which compete in the second semester of each school year and also appear regularly at many other Bulldog athletic events. Named the 2020 GPAC Cheer Coach of the Year, Maser's teams have showned consistent improvement from year to year. Highlights from the 2023 campaign included a CIT championship for the dance program and natinonal rankings (in terms of average competition score) of 13th in dance (81.47) and 26th in cheer (77.80). As part of the season, both squads broke school records for competition scores at a single event and dance came up just short of qualifying for the national championships. In previous seasons, Concordia Dance made a big step forward by placing fourth out of 10 teams at the 2020 NAIA Northwest Regional Qualifier. Then in 2021, the cheer and dance teams improved their average scoring significantly while turning place finishes of fourth in the GPAC for both (fifth in the region for dance). In 2022, the cheer program set a then school standard for highest score in a performance while Shelby Timmerman became the first All-GPAC award winner in Concordia Cheer history. The 2023 teams wound up with five total All-GPAC honorees, including Ryleigh Flesner, an NAIA Second Team All-American.
Maser, who owns United States All-Star Federation (USASF) credentialing for levels one through five tumbling and stunting as well as membership in the Federation, has held several roles related to dance and cheer instruction. She is certified by The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA).
As artistic director at Pure Movement Dance Institute in Lincoln, Maser helped grow participation from 50 students to approximately 400. While continuing to teach in the studio, she independently contracted additional choreography opportunities in the Lincoln Public Schools system, the Lincoln Community Playhouse, the TADA Theatre as well as additional high schools in central Nebraska. She has choreographed approximately 44 sold out musicals, many of which were regional premieres.
In addition, Maser served as adjunct professor for a fellow GPAC school for four years, instructing dance, specifically, jazz, modern, improvisation, creative movement and tap through the athletic program. She has also choreographed competition routines for local, state and national competitions for teams at Lincoln Public Schools, Crete High School and for high schools in Colorado and Iowa. From November 2014 through July 2016, Maser also worked as office services manager for the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.
Maser holds a bachelor of fine arts in Dance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mandi has a son Sam.
Nathan Buckallew rejoined the Concordia Baseball program as an assistant coach beginning with the 2023-24 academic year. Buckallew spent the 2018 through 2022 seasons as a student-athlete for the Bulldogs.
A native of Johnston, Iowa, Buckallew made 53 pitching appearances during his time as a Bulldog hurler. For the 2021 team that made a run to the NAIA World Series, Buckallew posted a 2.22 ERA, went 4-0 and notched seven saves while covering 28.1 innings (21 games). He was recognized as a 2021 Honorable Mention All-GPAC award winner and garnered Academic All-America honors from College Sports Information Directors of America. Then in 2022, Buckallew logged 25.1 innings (18 appearances) out of the bullpen and posted a 4.26 ERA. He helped Concordia reach the national tournament in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Buckallew has assisted his high school alma mater, Johnston High School, in four seasons. He coached the sophomore team in 2019 and 2021 and was the varsity pitching coach in 2022 and 2023. Both the '22 and '23 seasons resulted in Iowa Class 4A state championships for Johnston.
Nathan graduated from Concordia in 2021 with bachelor's degrees in Business Administration, Recreation and Sport Studies and Sport Management. He went on to earn his Master of Business Administration in 2022. Nathan is the son of Brian and Julie Buckallew.
Job Titles:
- Student Data Analyst, Assistant Men 's Soccer Coach
Nick Holmes completed his 11th season as an assistant men's soccer coach at Concordia University in 2023. He served three years as an assistant for the Bulldog women's soccer program from 2008-10. Holmes was as an assistant for the GPAC tournament championship teams of 2015 and 2022 and for squads that recorded conference tournament runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2017. The 2017 team shattered the program record for wins in a season while the 2023 squad went undefeated in the regular season and reached as high as No. 18 in the NAIA coaches' poll.
Holmes has also lent his expertise to several local organizations, camps and clubs. He worked as a staff coach for the Capital Soccer Association from 2010-13 as well as a staff coach for Sporting Lincoln FC in 2013 and 2014. In addition, he has served as a residential camp staff coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for three years (2012-14). Most recently, Holmes has been the head coach for Seward High School boys soccer.
Holmes holds a National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) National Diploma and NSCAA Goalkeeping Level I and II diplomas.
A former Bulldog athlete, Holmes played for the Concordia Men's Soccer program in 2005 and 2006. He graduated from Concordia with a bachelor of arts in History and M.S. Family Life.
Job Titles:
- Head Women 's Soccer Coach
The 2023 season marked Patrick Daberkow's 17th on the Concordia Football staff and seventh as head coach. He spent three seasons as the secondary coach and then seven years as defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs. Daberkow was officially promoted to the role of Head Football Coach in December of 2016.
In terms of record, the 2021 campaign was Daberkow's best. He guided the Bulldogs to a 7-3 overall record (tied for third in the GPAC) and the program's first sweep of in-state rivals Doane, Hastings and Midland since the 1970 season. The first season of Daberkow's head coaching tenure (2017) was highlighted by a homecoming victory over then seventh-ranked Doane and a late four-game win streak. The Bulldogs made one appearance in the national poll and finished at 6-4 overall. Their third-place league finish was the program's best since 2002. The 2020 team began the season at 4-0 before finishing 4-4 with the help of All-American linebacker Lane Napier. The program has produced at least one All-American in eight-straight seasons and in 10 of the past 11 seasons. Prior to Napier (2018-21) and Garrett Schardt (2021), Tarence Roby (2017) and Trey Barnes (2015, 2016) were also named NAIA All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association. In 2022, receiver Korrell Koehlmoos starred while leading the NAIA in receptions (95) and setting new program standards in all major receiving categories. The '22 team broke program records in the following categories: offensive yards per game (407.5), total passing yards (2,817), passing yards per game (281.7), passes completed (252), passes completed per game (25.2), passes attempted (444), passes attempted per game (44.4) and most offensive plays per game (77.8). The 2023 team then set a new standard for offensive yards (412.0).
Between 2013 and 2015, Daberkow coordinated two defenses that finished in the top five of the nation in terms of yards allowed per game. Led by GPAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-American safety Darnell Woods, the 2013 Bulldogs ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in pass defense (134.7), No. 5 in total defense (285.5) and No. 5 in scoring defense (17.3). Then in 2015, Concordia put together another dominant defense behind second team All-American Trey Barnes. Among all NAIA teams, Concordia ranked third in pass defense (144.0), fourth in total defense (279.6), fifth in pass efficiency defense (96.7) and 13th in scoring defense (18.7). The 2016 unit wasn't far off, finishing 17th in total defense (328.4). Led by Napier, the defense was the key to a six-game win streak that closed out the 2021 season. Napier finished his career with a school record 535 tackles and was named the '21 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year.
In Daberkow's seven years as defensive coordinator, Concordia produced a total of 29 first or second team All-GPAC defensive selections. Woods became the school's first ever GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. Prior to 2013, Daberkow also served as defensive backs coach. The 2010 team ranked 12th in the NAIA in pass defense.
Daberkow earned his bachelor's degree in Education from Concordia in 2007 and his master's in Education from Concordia in 2010. He lettered all four years as a defensive back for the Bulldogs. He was a team captain in 2006 and was named 2003 team Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
Daberkow is a native of Madison, Neb. He resides in Seward with his wife, Emly, their two daughters, Kinley and Brynn, and son, Roman.
Job Titles:
- HHP Instructor, Head Athletic Trainer
Ron Jackson Jr. returned to the Concordia University football staff after previously serving as a two-year graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Jackson works specifically with defensive tackles.
A native of Houston, Texas, Jackson earned second team All-GPAC accolades in 2016 after being named honorable mention all-conference in 2015. Also an Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska choice in 2016, Jackson recorded 105 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, during his four years as a nose guard at Concordia. Jackson helped the 2016 squad to a 7-3 overall record and No. 19 ranking in the final national poll.
Jackson graduated from Concordia with his degree in Business Administration. He is the son of Ronald Jackson Sr. and Danelle Sampia.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Head Baseball Coach
- Member of the American Baseball Coaches' Association
Ryan Dupic was named Concordia University Head Baseball Coach prior to the 2015 season. He completed his ninth season as Head Coach in 2023, a tenure that was preceded by a stint as Buena Vista University's Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach. During Dupic's tenure, Concordia has won a combined five GPAC championships and has advanced to five national tournaments.
Dupic has lifted the Bulldogs to tremendous heights, leading the program to its winningest nine-year stretch in program history (282-163-1). The 2021 season continued the upward trajectory of the program as the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA World Series for the first time ever. Not only that, Concordia broke school single-season records for wins (42), home runs (90), runs scored (468), hits (599) and pitcher strikeouts (529). As part of the greatest season in program history, Dupic's squad won the Bellevue Bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round and swept GPAC regular season and postseason championships. The Bulldogs defeated Doane in the GPAC postseason title game for the program's first-ever GPAC tournament championship. Jake Fosgett became the second pitcher under Dupic to be named the GPAC Pitcher of the Year. Following the season, Dupic was named an NAIA Regional Coach of the Year by the ABCA and the Midlands Men's Coach of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald.
Dupic has been a member of the American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA) and Iowa High School Baseball Coaches' Association (IHSBCA).
Job Titles:
- Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Ryan Tegtmeier was announced as Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Concordia University in August 2021. The former standout GPAC student-athlete previously served as the top assistant coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.
In his first season with the Bulldogs, Tegtmeier aided in what wound up as one of the greateast seasons in program history. Concordia won GPAC regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NAIA National Quarterfinals. The 2021-22 team's 28 wins were the third most in a single season in school history. The Bulldogs have advanced to the national tournament in both of Tegtmeier's two seasons on the staff. As an assistant with the Prairie Wolves, Tegtmeier worked under Dale Wellman and helped the program to a 25-4 campaign, a sweep of American Rivers Conference regular season/postseason titles and a final NCAA Division III national rating of 14th in 2019-20. Tegtmeier spent two seasons at Nebraska Wesleyan following two seasons as Head Boys Basketball Coach at Blue Hill High School. Tegtmeier also worked for three years as Head Coach of the Nebraska Select AAU-17U and mentored athletes that went on to play at nearly all levels of collegiate basketball.
In his second and final season at Blue Hill, Tegtmeier guided the team to a state tournament appearance in addition to a district title and conference tournament championship. Prior to the 2019 state playoff run, Blue Hill had not advanced to state since 1984. The program's 33 wins over two seasons under Tegtmeier represented a school record for a two-year stretch.
Tegtmeier put together a fine playing career of his own. As a Morningside Mustang, Tegtmeier started all four seasons and accumulated 1,349 points, 378 rebounds, 358 assists and 132 steals. His point total ranked 10th in school history at the time of his graduation in 2017. Tegtmeier piloted Morningside to a pair of conference championships and two national tournament appearances. He was named a Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2016 and earned a total of three all-conference honors. Academically, Tegtmeier garnered NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition.
Previously, Tegtmeier also paired coaching with his teaching career. He taught fifth and sixth grade social studies/science at Blue Hill Public Schools and then sixth grade design thinking/science at Schoo Middle School in Lincoln.
Tegtmeier graduated from Morningside College with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Ryan is married to Rachel Tegtmeier.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Men 's Soccer Coach
Tanner Knorr completed his second season as Graduate Assistant Coach for the Concordia Men's Soccer program in 2023-24. Knorr has several prior years of experience working within the Legends FC Youth Academy in California. Knorr helped the 2022 Bulldogs win the GPAC tournament title and advance to the NAIA national tournament. In addition, the '23 team went undefeated in the regular season and was ranked as high as No. 18 in the NAIA coaches' poll.
A native of Newport Beach, Calif., Knorr began his coaching career in 2019 following his collegiate soccer career. In his coaching roles with Legends FC, Knorr has presided over teams that have won numerous league and showcase championships. Knorr's teams earned status as National Premier League Champions, Silverlakes summer and fall Showcase Champions (multiple times) and California Regional League Champions.
Knorr's coaching career followed his collegiate playing career at both NCAA Division I California State University Bakersfield and NCAA Division II California State University San Bernardino. With the help of Knorr, CSUSB rose as high as No. 5 in the national rankings.
Knorr graduated from CSUSB with a bachelor's degree in Business with a concentration in Finance. He is pursuing his master's in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Concordia. Tanner is the son of David and Dina Knorr and has a sister Jordan.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strength Conditioning and Training
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach / Special Teams Coordinator
Concordia alum Trent Laune completed his second season as a full-time member on the Concordia University Football staff in 2023. He returned to Seward after most recently serving as the Defensive Coordinator at NCAA Division III Grove City College in Grove City, Penn.
Originally from Ashland, Neb., Laune played linebacker for the Bulldogs from 2004 through 2007 and was named Second Team All-GPAC in 2007. In year one as an assistant coach, Laune oversaw a special teams that excelled in particular in the punt game. He also helped tutor two all-conference defensive backs. Laune immediately began his coaching career following his graduation and served as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs under former head coach Vance Winter. After leaving Seward, Laune landed at NCAA Division III Greenville University in Greenville, Ill., as Defensive Coordinator. Between Greenville and Grove City, Laune spent a combined nine years running defenses at the two programs.
While at Grove City, Laune collaborated on the program's turnaround and helped the Wolverines produce a combined record of 25-8 over the 2018 through 2021 seasons. Under Laune's direction, Grove City's 2021 defense limited the opposition to averages of 254.0 yards and 15.8 points per game. While at Greenville, Laune enjoyed similar success in elevating the defense and aiding the Panthers in a 9-2 campaign in 2013. Laune and the Greenville program produced an NFL free agent signee in Nicholas Morrow, a current member of the Las Vegas Raiders. As part of his duties, Laune proved successful on the recruiting trail in landing student-athletes from 11 different states throughout his career.
Laune retruned to his roots. He led the 2007 Bulldogs in tackles with 70 while also recording 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. As a graduate assistant at Concordia, Laune coached standouts such as linebacker Jerrod Fleming, a 2011 First Team All-GPAC performer. Laune earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration from Concordia.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Wrestling Coach, PE Athletic Equipment & Operations Manager
Tyree Cox joined the Concordia University wrestling staff ahead of the 2019-20 season and finished his fourth season with the Bulldogs in 2022-23. Cox also serves an athletic equipment role within the athletic department.
In year one working with the Bulldogs, Cox helped the program to a sweep of GPAC dual and postseason championships behind three individual conference champions. Concordia qualified eight individuals for the national championships, including two who claimed All-America honors: Alberto Garcia (133) and Tanner Farmer (285). As a team, the Bulldogs placed 15th nationally. Mario Ybarra (133) then earned All-America honors in 2021. This past 2022-23 season, Concordia equaled a program record for dual wins in a season and sent four wrestlers to the NAIA national tournament.
Cox had spent the previous three seasons as an assistant at Northwestern College, his alma mater. The native of Lancaster, Calif., was hired on with the Red Raiders following a successful two-year run in Orange City, Iowa, as a student-athlete. As a competitor at Northwestern, Cox twice qualified for the NAIA National Championships and was a First Team All-GPAC honoree. Cox put together a 28-9 overall record his senior season.
Prior to landing at Northwestern, Cox wrestled at and attended Cerritos College. While there, Cox qualified for the national championships twice and earned a place finish at the community college state tournament.
Tyree is the son of Tania O'Conner. He has a younger brother Troy O'Conner. Tyree earned his degree in Kinesiology from Northwestern. He is married to Kaitlyn Cox.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Football Coach
Wyatt Nickels completed his first season as a graduate assistant coach on the Concordia University Football staff in 2023.
As a student-athlete at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Nickels lettered three times. He earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science. He is currently pursuing his master's in Athletic Administration.
Wyatt is the son of Troy and Krystal Nickels. He has three sisters: Shay, Sydnee and Hallee.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach
Zack Haupt joined the Concordia University Baseball coaching staff beginning with the fall semester of 2023. Haupt serves as a graduate assistant on Coach Ryan Dupic's staff.
Haupt moved into coaching following his collegiate playing career at NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Most recently, Haupt served as head infield and associate pitching coach at UWSP during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In his first year of coaching, he helped the Pointers win their first WIAC postseason title since 2015. The Pointers went on to win both an NCAA Regional and Super Regional to advance to the 2022 DIII College World Series and set the record for wins in a season (42). In 2023, UWSP won the WIAC regular season conference title. UWSP went on to win an NCAA Regional and reached a Super Regional for the second consecutive year. Haupt also worked in the Northwoods Summer League as the Head Pitching Coach for the Battle Creek Battle Jacks in the Great Lakes East Division during the summer of 2023.
As a collegiate player, Haupt earned Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades in 2021 and served as a team captain for three seasons. As a senior, Haupt helped the Pointers win their first conference championship in more than 10 years.
Haupt earned his B.A. in English from Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is currently pursuing his MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Concordia. Zack is the son of Patrick and Laurie and has a sister Riley.