Ryan Dupic was officially named Concordia’s Head Baseball Coach in the summer of 2014 after having served as the pitching coach at his alma mater, Buena Vista University. Dupic has since presided over the most successful era in the history of the Bulldog Baseball program. He’s led Concordia to more than 200 total wins and engineered a trip to the 2021 NAIA World Series. Dupic’s teams have won a combined four GPAC titles and have appeared at three national tournaments. Get to know more about Dupic in this Q&A.
Q&A with Coach Dupic
Which athlete(s) did you idolize growing up?
Chipper Jones.
Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
Atlanta Braves.
Which person/people were most influential in your career choice?
My Dad (Rick).
What is one book you would recommend to others in your profession?
“Smarter Faster Better” by Charles Duhigg.
What do you find most rewarding about coaching?
Seeing teams come together and seeing student-athletes grow in all areas of their lives.
What has changed the most about the profession since you started coaching?
Information is much more easily accessible in today’s day and age, which can be both very helpful and very challenging.
Beyond athletic talent and ability, what is the No. 1 trait you’re looking for in a prospective recruit?
Someone who likes to be part of a team.
Name something your own student-athletes have taught you in your time as a coach.
If a player truly wants to be great, they will probably accomplish it whether I’m involved or not.
What athletic achievement of your own are you most proud of?
The times I was able to help teammates.
How are you most likely spending your free time away from work?
Spending time with my family and playing with my boys.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
Triple Chocolate Pazookie from BJ’s Restaurant for dessert, I can live with a few options for the main dish.
Where have you gone for vacation this summer?
Beaches in Florida.
Which social medium (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) do you use the most?
Twitter.
What genre of music do you prefer?
Depends on the context, I like to mix it up.
What is the No. 1 thing that makes Concordia a special place?
As a member of the athletic department, we have a very supportive, competitive and helpful athletic administration and staff.
What is it that keeps you excited about your job as you look ahead to the 2021-22 academic year?
It’s another opportunity to get better and grow our people and program to see how good we can be.