Waddle named to baseball coaching staff
SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia head baseball coach Ryan Dupic, named to his post on July 1, has announced the addition of Jake Waddle to his coaching staff. Waddle has already assumed the role of Assistant Head Baseball Coach. He takes over the position vacated by Rich Eber, who accepted a job at Seward High School following four years as the Bulldog hitting coach.
Waddle has spent the past several years coaching in eastern Iowa, most recently serving as assistant baseball coach/summer sports camps director at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Concordia has given me,” Waddle said. “The passion the entire Concordia family has toward helping student-athletes on and off the field is contagious. I look forward to meeting each of these student-athletes as they arrive back to campus over the next few weeks. There are many great things going on at Concordia that point to a very bright future for the baseball program. I am excited to be part of that future.”
During the hiring process, Dupic and Director of Athletics Devin Smith identified Waddle as an ideal candidate.
“I’m thrilled to add Jake to our coaching staff,” Dupic said. “Jake has an extensive background in developing quality young men and baseball players. He grew up in a coaching family, was an excellent high school and collegiate player and has gotten off to a fast start in his coaching career at various collegiate institutions. He will bring a lot to the program including a tremendous amount of energy, an expertise in working with our hitters and catchers and a relentless attitude to recruiting.”
While at Coe, Waddle filled the roles of recruiting coordinator, head junior varsity coach, hitting coach and worked with the catchers. He also handled event administration and registration and organization of Coe summer sports camps.
In addition to his one season spent at Coe, Waddle worked for three years as an assistant coach (hitting coach and catching/outfield coach) at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. During that same time, he also served an assistant role for John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. The 2010 Cougar squad captured the Iowa Class 4A state championship. Waddle coached hitting and catchers and called pitches for Kennedy.
Prior to his coaching career, Waddle shined on the diamond at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. As a member of the Norse, the native of Coon Rapids, Iowa, won two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference batting titles and earned all-conference three times and all-region twice. He spent one summer playing in the Northwoods Summer Collegiate Baseball League. Waddle also lettered all four years in basketball at Luther.
Waddle earned his bachelor of arts degree in business management from Luther in 2009. He picked up a master of business administration from the University of Dubuque in 2013.
Jake is engaged to Hillary Reed.
