Several Concordia University alums have lived the thrill of winning state championships during the current academic year. Read on for recent accomplishments of Bulldogs making waves in the high school coaching ranks.
Mark Duitsman (’03) has experienced impressive success while leading the girls basketball program at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colo. This March he won his second state championship in the past three seasons with the Lions. Duitsman, also the director of athletic development, has served Lutheran since 2004. In 2014 he was selected as the 2A Girls Colorado Coach of the Year. This season Duitsman received assistance from alums Joel Haywood (‘15) and Kelsey Hizer (‘15) in leading Lutheran to a 52-44 state championship game win over Manitou Springs.
Duitsman saw his most action as a member of the Bulldog men’s basketball team as a senior in 2002-03 when he played in 34 games (averaged 5.9 points) for a Grant Schmidt-coached squad that advanced to the NAIA Division II national quarterfinals. Duitsman played alongside current Concordia women’s basketball head coach Drew Olson.
Dan Kober (‘10) reached the pinnacle of Nevada high school Division I-A by leading both the boys and girls track and field programs at Faith Lutheran High School to state titles in 2015. For his efforts, Kober received the honor of 2015 Nevada High School Coach of the Year from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Kober also serves as the computer science department chair at Faith Lutheran. He has been the head track and field coach since 2013.
Kober excelled most in the hurdles during his time as an athlete at Concordia under head coach Kregg Einspahr. Kober qualified for the national championships multiple times. He ranks sixth on the program’s all-time list in the 110-meter outdoor hurdles (14.88).
Carli (Smith) Lindeman (‘15) quickly acclimated herself to coaching. In her first season as head coach in 2015, Lindeman led the Heartland Lutheran High School (Nebraska Class D-1) girls team to its first-ever state volleyball appearance. Back in early October with Heartland Lutheran off to a 13-1 start, Lindeman said the following: “My main goal was to really push these girls and coach them to be the best they can be. Coaches have done that for me in the past. I didn’t have huge expectations because I didn’t know. I just wanted to coach these girls to be the best they can be. They have responded well to that and they’re playing very, very well.”
As a member of the Concordia volleyball team from 2011-15, Lindeman compiled more than 1,700 digs and earned all-conference accolades.
Bernie Ochoa (‘03) coached the U-14 Napa United Academy (Calif.) boys soccer team to a 2015 national title. More specifically, Ochoa’s group captured the US Club Soccer National Cup XIV in the premier group. The title game resulted in a 5-0 rout for the Napa United Academy Reds. In an article dated July 24, 2015, Ochoa was quoted as saying, “It was a great overall performance, a great team effort by all the boys. Playing the top competition in the nation and representing Northern California and Napa United Soccer Club, they matched up well. It was a great experience and shows the talent in our soccer community.” In addition, Ochoa guided Vintage High School (Calif.) to the CIF sectional title in 2015.
Ochoa tallied 31 career goals and earned co-GPAC player of the year honors in 2000 while a member of the Bulldog men’s soccer team. He also earned first team all-conference recognition twice and second team honors once. Ochoa was a teammate of current Concordia men’s soccer head coach Jason Weides.
Glen Snodgrass (’98) has completely turned around the fortunes of York High School football. He’s led the program to four-straight Class B state playoff appearances. Prior to Snodgrass’ arrival, York went 9-54 between 2004 and 2011. In 2013 the Dukes advanced all the way to the state championship game. Snodgrass is 33-12 in his four seasons at York. Prior to his coaching career at York, Snodgrass won six district titles and a state championship as head football coach at Overton High School.
Snodgrass received Concordia Senior Male Athlete of the Year recognition in 1998. He was a two-time all-conference player in basketball and a first team all-conference selection in his only season of football as a Bulldog. Snodgrass totaled 981 points, 607 rebounds and 188 blocks on the hardwood.
Adam Vogt (’14) assisted the 2015-16 Nebraska City Lourdes boys basketball team that won the Class D1 state championship. In four seasons as a member of the Concordia men’s basketball team, Vogt racked up 910 points while making 154 3-point field goals.