SEWARD, Neb. – Formerly the Head Softball Coach at Lincoln Northeast High School, Melissa Martinez has been named the top assistant on the Concordia University, Nebraska Softball coaching staff, as announced by Concordia Athletics on Thursday (June 6). Martinez will officially begin her new role as Assistant Softball Coach on July 8 and will work with Head Coach Brock Culler, who in 2024 completed his second season leading the Bulldogs. Martinez is well-connected to the softball scene within the state of Nebraska as a Lincoln native and Lincoln Southeast High School graduate.
The hiring of Martinez continues the momentum for a Bulldog Softball program that finished 2024 in a tie for third place in the GPAC standings. The addition of Martinez as a full-time assistant creates an opportunity for further growth on the diamond while enhancing the student-athlete experience within the program.
Said Martinez, “I am grateful and excited to join the Concordia University Softball Program. Thank you to Coach Culler for believing in my coaching ability and providing me this opportunity. The team made some noise in the GPAC last season, in part due to the dynamic energy and bold expectations of Coach Culler. I am thrilled to be a part of this type of team culture. I cannot wait to build upon the foundation he has established and compete for championships with the Bulldogs.”
Said Culler, “Melissa has played and coached the game at a high level and brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the Bulldog program. Coach Martinez values her faith and family. She not only brings value to the softball side of our program, but her core values will help guide and prepare our student-athletes for success after college. Melissa is a great addition to the Bulldog family, and I am looking forward to working with her.”
Most recently, Martinez has served as assistant coach on the Nebraska National Softball team out of Omaha, Neb. She spent four seasons as the head coach at Lincoln Northeast High School. Martinez has also followed her passion in positions as Head Women’s Softball Coach of the Dutch Fork Bulldogs in the Carolina Collegiate Summer Softball League (Columbia, S.C.) and as Assistant Softball Coach of the Fastpitch U Women’s Softball team of the Florida Gulf Coast League (Sarasota, Fla.). Additionally, she’s coached various competitive softball teams in the Omaha and Lincoln areas, as well as the National Stars and Stripes baseball team out of Florida and has privately trained baseball and softball prospects in the Lincoln and Omaha areas.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Martinez starred at catcher for NCAA Division II St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Over four seasons at St. Cloud, Martinez helped lead the Huskies to three straight NCAA Division II tournament appearances and to one North Central Conference championship. In addition, her teams won a combined 168 games and were nationally ranked in three of the four seasons. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elective Studies. As a prep at Lincoln Southeast, Martinez was instrumental in the Knights winning three district championships and four conference championships while earning three trips to the NSAA State Softball Tournament. She earned all-conference, honorable mention all-state and all-city honors in her high school career.
Melissa is engaged to be married to Mathias Wendeln of Syracuse, Neb. She has three children and two “bonus children,” all of whom are involved in extra-curricular activities. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with family, traveling, reading and supporting her children in their sporting endeavors.
Martinez added, “I would also like to thank Director of Athletics Devin Smith and Associate Athletics Director Angela Muller, along with all the many other coaches and staff members at Concordia University for welcoming me and my family with open arms. As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew this is where God was calling me to serve and continue my softball coaching career. Lastly, thank you to my family and friends for always encouraging me along the way. I would not be here without your unconditional love, support, and prayers.”