Omaha World-Herald news article
SEWARD, Neb. – Another coaching award has come in for Ryan Dupic, leader of the 2021 NAIA World Series qualifying Concordia University Baseball team. On Tuesday (July 20), the Omaha World-Herald recognized Dupic as its 2021 Midlands Men’s Coach of the Year. The honor is handed out annually by the World-Herald to a standout head coach from a Nebraska college/university outside of NCAA Division I.
Dupic is the first Concordia head coach to earn the men’s midlands coaching honor since Kregg Einspahr (track & field) in 2015. The list of accolades for Dupic in 2021 includes recognition as an American Baseball Coaches Association NAIA Regional Coach of the Year and as a finalist for the NAIA Ball National Coach of the Year.
As an award winner, Dupic recently discussed the 2021 season with the World-Herald. Said Dupic, “Making the World Series was a big thing for us. It kind of puts your name out there. That's been a big deal to kind of get your foot in the door.”
Among the achievements this past spring, the Bulldogs swept GPAC regular season and postseason titles, won the Bellevue Bracket NAIA opening round championship, moved into the NAIA coaches’ top 25 for the first time in program history (finished at No. 12) and set a new school standard with 42 wins. In his seven seasons as head coach, Dupic has won 202 games while leading the program to a combined four GPAC titles and three NAIA national tournaments.
All-time Concordia men’s midlands college coaches of the year
2021 – Ryan Dupic (baseball)
2015 – Kregg Einspahr (track and field)
2005 – Grant Schmidt (men’s basketball)
1992 – Grant Schmidt (men’s basketball)
1982 – Larry Oetting (football) and Wayne Rasmussen (men’s basketball)
1971 – John Seevers (football)