It wouldn’t be the first time Jason Weides encouraged Bernie Ochoa to leave his hometown of Napa, California, for a specific Lutheran Church Missouri Synod school tucked amongst agricultural fields of Seward, Nebraska. As Ochoa recalls, the two future teammates discussed life at Concordia University and within the men’s soccer program over a recruiting call that occurred sometime in the late 1990s. Ochoa liked enough of what he heard that he became convinced to embrace the “culture shock” of smalltown Nebraska.
Nearly three decades later, a series of calls, text messages and interviews set in motion the chance to reunite at that same place where they first established a friendship. “I wouldn’t have done this without Jason,” Bernie states matter-of-factly. What Ochoa means by ‘this’ is an arrangement that would force the two former teammates out of their comfort zone.
Eighteen years deep into his tenure as Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Weides agreed to make a transformative shift. He would become the Head Women’s Soccer Coach while continuing to oversee the men’s soccer program as Director of Soccer Operations. The transition opened the door for Ochoa’s return to Concordia as Head Men’s Soccer Coach, 23 years after his graduation. Behind the scenes, Associate AD Angela Muller played an instrumental role in hammering out the logistics to make it happen.
First, Weides would need to sign off on the change, and agree to give up “his baby,” as he described the men’s soccer program, which was coming off a historic run to the second round of the 2025 NAIA National Championships. After former women’s head coach Nick Smith (40-13-9 record over three seasons) departed for another opportunity late in 2025, Weides began overseeing a portion of the women’s team’s offseason workouts. It gave him a taste of what this new role may be like.
“It was a really exciting opportunity,” Weides said. “I was at a stage in life where I was ready for a new challenge, but this is home. I love this place, and I wasn't ready to leave Concordia for another opportunity elsewhere. Being able to remain involved with the men's program in a different role, work alongside Bernie, and continue growing as a coach made it a perfect fit. The women's program has had a lot of success over the years, and the opportunity to help take it to new heights was exciting.”
Prior to Nick Smith’s departure, Weides and Ochoa had already been discussing ways to potentially bring Ochoa back to his alma mater. Ochoa had been wildly successful coaching club and high school teams in his home state. He was even inducted into California’s High School Hall of Fame in 2023. But Ochoa felt an itch to coach at the collegiate level and to return to Concordia. At one point, he even expressed a willingness to be Weides’ graduate assistant coach.
Once Director of Athletics Devin Smith and Muller agreed upon a plan, everything came together quickly. Ochoa first had a virtual one-on-one with Muller, then a virtual conversation with both Smith and Muller before traveling to campus for a formal interview. Once initiated, the process took less than two weeks and officially wrapped up when the announcement was made to the public on March 9, 2026.
Naturally, members of the women’s soccer program felt a degree of restlessness as the first two months of 2026 passed without the naming of a new head coach. Muller couldn’t reveal everything that was transpiring behind the scenes.
A senior on the 2026 roster, Sadie Mares met with Muller soon before the announcement was made. Muller provided a hint on what was coming when she told Mares, “We’ve never done this type of thing before.” Mares put two and two together and believed Weides was about to make the switch.
The hiring of Weides went over swimmingly, as evidenced by the retention of nearly all underclassmen with remaining eligibility. Said Mares, “We were all really excited to have someone who already knows us, knows our mentality and knows where we want to go. It was very exciting to find out that he was going to be our coach. We were thrilled.”
Mares also noted how the men’s program was bringing in someone who already displayed a passion for the university and Bulldog Soccer. In many cases, Concordia alums feel such a connection to the school that they want to continue to be part of it, long after graduation. Remarked Mares, “I don't see many schools like that.”
His obvious passion for the opportunity helped Ochoa quickly win over the group of players he inherited. Less than a week after starting on the job, Ochoa dove in headfirst while preparing his team to play an NCAA Division I opponent in a scrimmage. No, Weides did Ochoa no favors with the grueling schedule he put in place for the spring and fall of 2026. Because they are friends, they can laugh about it while ribbing each other.
Challenging schedule aside, Weides has done everything he can to make Ochoa comfortable and to set him up for success. When a decision was finalized for Weides to become the women’s coach, he envisioned no one other than Ochoa taking the reins of the men’s program.
Says Ochoa, “Who would have thought I’d come back to my alma mater and be the head coach? Jason being a big part of it, I always give him a lot of respect. We were teammates, and he gave me this opportunity. It was hard for him after 18 years as the head coach to step aside. It definitely meant a lot to me to know that he trusted me with the program. Hopefully, I can fulfill his expectations and the high expectations he’s established over the years and continue the success of the program.”
A senior on the men’s team’s back line, Michael Wyvill never saw the coaching change coming, but the entire operation has hummed smoothly along with Weides serving as a mentor. The two soccer lifers are able to bounce ideas and thought processes off one another. The early returns are quite impressive with the two teams sitting at a combined 11-0 in conference play heading into the middle of October.
As Wyvill commented prior to the start of the season, “Both the men’s and women’s programs have great opportunities to grow, and I know both soccer programs are in good hands.”
Head coach of the men’s program for 19 years (1974-91, 1993), Dr. Jack Kinworthy gave the new arrangement his blessing. Kinworthy has continued to fervently support the soccer programs in the years since stepping away from coaching. Kinworthy helped lay a foundation for soccer while establishing it as a respected varsity sport at Concordia.
Said Kinworthy back in July, “When I saw that happen, I thought, ‘It’s a blessing for CU soccer – both teams.’ Jason’s not going to go anywhere, and Bernie will be excellent … Moving forward, I think it’s going to another rung. These are people who are ingrained in Concordia University, Nebraska. I’m thrilled about it.”
Once upon a time, both Weides and Ochoa were recruited to Concordia by AD Devin Smith, formerly men’s soccer head coach (1994-98), along with other duties as an assistant men’s basketball coach and sports information director. Weides arrived as a freshman at Concordia in the fall of 1998. The Kearney native Weides played a key role as a defender and was honored as a Second Team All-GPAC award winner in 2001. Meanwhile, Ochoa learned of Concordia through a Vintage High School teammate who had already landed in Seward.
Weides and Ochoa played together on the 2000 and 2001 teams guided by Bill Schranz, who followed Smith and Jason Boettscher (1999) in the head coaching role. (The 2000 team set a school record at the time by winning 12 games). From his spot on the back line, Weides watched Ochoa blossom as the Bulldogs’ most prominent attacker. Ochoa was named co-GPAC Player of the Year in 2000 after he tallied 11 goals and three assists. A transfer from San Franciso State University, Ochoa racked up 31 goals and 10 assists during three seasons at Concordia and was inducted into the Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
When Ochoa gave his induction speech, he made his first appearance on campus since the mid-2000s, unaware that he would be back in just a few short years to “fulfill his dreams.” (Over the years in between, Ochoa and Weides remained in regular contact). As Ochoa said, “I knew this was what I’d always wanted to do, and the opportunity was in front of me.”
There was confidence among everyone involved in the process that Ochoa would be a great fit as the leader of the men’s program. On the flip side, Angela Muller believed Weides’ temperament and coaching style would translate exceptionally well to the women’s side. Additionally, Nick Holmes, a longtime friend to Weides and an assistant coach for both soccer programs, put the bug in Weides’ ear: “You’d be a great women’s coach.”
Upon reflection, Weides gave his final approval. At one time a candidate for the women’s job, Ochoa felt more comfortable taking on the men’s position. Weides contacted Ochoa with a directive to apply for the men’s opening, right now. It was time for a return to Nebraska. Both parties were sold on the athletic department’s long-term vision.
As Weides explained, “I get to be part of it with Bernie, a friend and former teammate. That’s another reason why this really worked – I knew he was going to be great. He’s already doing a great job. I knew the men’s team had an opportunity to take a step forward with this move, and the women’s team has an opportunity to take a step forward too.”
Seven months since ushering in a new era for Concordia Soccer, Weides and Ochoa haven’t looked back. Forever linked through their time as teammates, Weides and Ochoa are closer than ever before, literally. Their Walz Complex offices now sit across the hall from one another. What’s old is new again.