AD Devin Smith discusses department success with KLKN

By Jacob Knabel on Apr. 7, 2020 in Athletic Announcements

TV Story: Concordia Athletics make national splash in 2019-20 season

SEWARD, Neb. – In an interview that aired late on Saturday (April 4) evening, Director of Athletics Devin Smith discussed details behind recent Concordia University Athletic Department success with Matt Reynoldson of KLKN-TV (Channel 8) out of Lincoln. Heading into the spring seasons, the Bulldogs were leading the GPAC in the All-Sports Trophy Standings and were listed at No. 18 in the NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings.

“I really believe we were set to make a serious splash here in the spring,” Smith said. “And it was just going to be one of those miracle seasons, I think. This was going to be one of the best springs in the last couple, three years with weather.”

Added Smith in the interview, “We started to get some programs elevated over the course of a few years together. When that tide starts rising, all the boats start elevating. It’s the people that we hire and they understand the purpose and the mission of our university, as well as our athletic department.”

Over the fall and winter seasons this 2019-20 academic year, Concordia teams combined for seven GPAC championships:

·        Men’s Basketball – GPAC Tournament Champions

·        Women’s Basketball (2) – GPAC Regular-Season/Tournament Champions

·        Women’s Cross Country – GPAC Champions

·        Women’s Indoor Track & Field – GPAC Champions

·        Wrestling (2) – GPAC Regular-Season/Tournament Champions

On the national level, these were the notable team achievements prior to the cancellation of athletic competitions this spring:

·        Women’s Basketball – ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division II when season was cut short.

·        Women’s Indoor Track & Field – placed fourth in the NAIA (trophy finish) for the program’s highest ever indoor national finish.

·        Women’s Cross Country – placed 12th in the NAIA for the program’s best national finish since 2005.

·        Volleyball – reached the NAIA national round of 16 for the first time in program history; ranked 14th in the NAIA postseason coaches’ poll.

·        Wrestling – placed 15th in the NAIA.

·        Men’s Indoor Track & Field – placed 17th in the NAIA.

·        Men’s Basketball – qualified for the national tournament for the first time since 2005.