Volleyball

Hometown: Hickman, Neb.
Alma Mater: University of Nebraska

Ben Boldt was named Concordia University’s head volleyball coach in December of 2017. In six seasons leading the Bulldogs, Boldt owns an overall record of 127-47. His 100th career win at Concordia came on Nov. 9, 2022, with a five-set victory at No. 3 Midland in the GPAC tournament semifinals.

Boldt led the 2023 team to a share of the GPAC regular season title with a school record 14 conference victories. The '23 squad rose to No. 1 in the NAIA coaches' poll (two separate polls) and extended the program's run of consecutive appearances at the national tournament final site to five. Bree Burtwistle was recognized as the GPAC Setter of the Year and was joined by Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer with first team all-conference accolades. The conference championship marked the first for the program since 2000. Boldt was subsequently named the 2023-24 Midlands College Coach of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald.

In year five (2022), the Concordia volleyball team finished with a 25-6 overall record and finsihed the season ranked #4 in the nation.  The rise to No. 4 in 2022 represented the highest national ranking in program history at the time. Concordia was included in the NAIA top 10 in every poll released during the 2022 regular season. It also claimed 13 wins over teams that qualified for the national tournament. Three Concordia players landed on the NAIA All-America list: middle Gabi Nordaker (second team), outside hitter Camryn Opfer (second team) and setter Bree Burtwistle (honorable mention).

In year three and four at the helm (2020-21), the Concordia Volleyball program ascended to heights it had not previously reached. For the first time in school history, the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals in a run that included a win at Xavier University of New Orleans and NAIA pool play victories over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and defending national champion Marian (Ind.). The Bulldogs went 18-5 overall, finished ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, placed third in the GPAC regular season standings, won seven matches over teams that finished in the top 25 and went 7-0 versus in-state opponents. Then in 2021, Boldt steadied a team that had endured a series of five-set losses and steered the Bulldogs to the national quarterfinals for a second year in a row. The '21 squad earned a No. 6 postseason national ranking (best in school history at the time) and appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match. Then in 2022, Concordia continued that momentum while rising as high as No. 4 in the NAIA coaches' poll, then representing a new high watermark for the program. The Bulldogs went 25-6 overall and finished one win shy of a third straight appearance in the national quarterfinals. The '21, '22 and '23 teams all appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match.

In the 2019 season (2nd season at the helm), Boldt led Concordia to the final site of the NAIA National Championship for the first time while the program recorded its first-ever wins at the national tournament. The Bulldogs concluded the '19 campaign in the national round of 16, went 25-8 overall and landed at No. 14 in the NAIA postseason poll. Individually, Emmie Noyd became the program's first player to be named first/second/third team All-America since 2001. More recently, Camryn Opfer has been named to the NAIA National Championship all-tournament team at both the 2020 and 2021 national tournaments and setter Tara Callahan concluded a remarkable career that included five all-conference mentions. Opfer was named a Second Team All-American along with Gabi Nordaker in 2022 (Bree Burtwistle was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-American).

Previously, Ben and his wife Angie spent two seasons leading the NCAA Division III Hendrix College Warriors. In their two-year stint, they won the 2016 Southern Athletic Association championship and coached three All-Americans, three All-South Region selections, five first team all-conference choices and four second team all-conference award winners. In 2016, Ben and Angie earned the conference coach of the year award and coached Sara Dyslin to All-American, Academic All-American and conference player of the year awards.  

A native of Hickman, Neb., Ben possesses extensive experience (14 years) at the NCAA Division I level. He got his start as a student coach and manager at Nebraska where he was part of a national championship team in 2006. He moved onto the University of Alabama as an assistant for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. His next journey took him to the University of Iowa for five years in Iowa City, where he worked specifically with liberos and middle blockers and was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 2012. He also spent one season apiece assisting volleyball teams at the University of Arkansas (2014) and Iowa Western Community College (2015).

Ben has been successful in each of his coaching stops. In 2008 he was recognized as a Thirty Under 30 award winner by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. During his time at Iowa, he coached the school’s all-time digs leader Bethany Yeager (2,007 digs) and mentored 29 academic All-Big Ten selections. At Iowa Western, Ben helped the Reivers to a 42-8 overall record and No. 4 final ranking at the National Junior College Athletic Association level. Sara Dyslin of Hendrix garnered SAA Player of the Year accolades.

Ben has served the AVCA as a subcommittee member on recruiting. Additionally, he has coached for the USA National Team program, the Youth National Team and the National A2 Team. Ben has also worked with major club programs in the Lincoln, Omaha and Iowa City areas.

Ben and Angie have a son, Brady, and a daughter, Addison. Ben graduated from Nebraska in 2005 with a degree in exercise science.

John Cook, University of Nebraska Head Volleyball Coach (December 2017):
It is a great day for volleyball in this state when two former Huskers land a dream job for them in Nebraska. Ben and Angie Boldt worked at Nebraska Volleyball, fell in love, and now will take over the Concordia Volleyball Program. Their goal has been to be in Nebraska and they will now create another nationally ranked NAIA team in Nebraska. This is a WIN WIN for Concordia and the Boldts.

Bulldogs Under Coach Boldt

2018: 15-12 Overall, 5-11 GPAC

2019: 25-8 Overall, 11-5 GPAC

2020: 18-5 Overall, 12-3 GPAC

2021: 19-12 Overall, 9-7 GPAC

2022: 25-6 Overall, 12-4 GPAC

2023: 25-4 Overall, 14-2 GPAC (T-1st)

Total:  127-47 Overall, 63-32 GPAC (6 years)

Hometown: St. Paul, Neb.
Alma Mater: University of Nebraska

Angie Boldt was named an assistant on her husband Ben’s staff in December of 2017. In addition to her coaching role, Angie instructs classes and assists in athletic communications. The first six seasons of Bulldog Volleyball under the Boldts' direction have resulted in a 127-47 combined overall record and five national tournament appearances.

Angie helped lead the 2023 team to a share of the GPAC regular season title with a school record 14 conference victories. The '23 squad rose to No. 1 in the NAIA coaches' poll (two separate polls) and extended the program's run of consecutive appearances at the national tournament final site to five. Bree Burtwistle was recognized as the GPAC Setter of the Year and was joined by Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer with first team all-conference accolades. The conference championship marked the first for the program since 2000.

In year five (2022), the Concordia volleyball team finished with a 25-6 overall record and finsihed the season ranked #4 in the nation.  The rise to No. 4 in 2022 represented the highest national ranking in program history at the time. Concordia was included in the NAIA top 10 in every poll released during the 2022 regular season. It also claimed 13 wins over teams that qualified for the national tournament. Three Concordia players landed on the NAIA All-America list: middle Gabi Nordaker (second team), outside hitter Camryn Opfer (second team) and setter Bree Burtwistle (honorable mention).  Angie was named the West Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year by the AVCA.

In year three and four (2020-21), the Concordia Volleyball program again ascended to heights it had not previously reached. For the first time in school history, the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals in a run that included a win at Xavier University of New Orleans and NAIA pool play victories over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and defending national champion Marian (Ind.). The Bulldogs went 18-5 overall, finished ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, placed third in the GPAC regular season standings, won seven matches over teams that finished in the top 25 and went 7-0 versus in-state opponents. Then in 2021, Boldt steadied a team that had endured a series of five-set losses and steered the Bulldogs to the national quarterfinals for a second year in a row. The '21 squad earned a No. 6 postseason national ranking (best in school history) and appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match. Then in 2022, Concordia continued that momentum while rising as high as No. 4 in the NAIA coaches' poll, representing a new high watermark for the program. The Bulldogs went 25-6 overall and finished one win shy of a third straight appearance in the national quarterfinals. Both the '21 and '22 teams appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match.

In the 2019 season, Concordia reached the final site of the NAIA National Championship for the first time while the program recorded its first-ever wins at the national tournament. The Bulldogs concluded the '19 campaign in the national round of 16, went 25-8 overall and landed at No. 14 in the NAIA postseason poll. Individually, Emmie Noyd became the program's first player to be named first/second/third team All-America since 2001. More recently, Camryn Opfer has been named to the NAIA National Championship all-tournament team at both the 2020 and 2021 national tournaments and setter Tara Callahan concluded a remarkable career that included five all-conference mentions. Opfer was named a Second Team All-American along with Gabi Nordaker in 2022 (Bree Burtwistle was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-American).

Most recently, Angie spent two seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division III Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. During the two-year stint, Angie and Ben won the 2016 Southern Athletic Association championship and coached three All-Americans, three All-South Region selections, five first team all-conference choices and four second team all-conference award winners. In 2016, she earned the conference coach of the year award and coached Sara Dyslin to All-American, Academic All-American and conference player of the year awards.

A native of St. Paul, Neb., Angie has 12 years of experience at the NCAA Division I level. She broke into the coaching profession as a student assistant in volleyball operations at the University of Nebraska. She moved on to become a graduate assistant in volleyball operations at the University of Alabama (2006-08). Angie’s next stop landed her in Iowa City as the Director of Volleyball Operations (2008-13) and then as an assistant coach (2013-14) at the University of Iowa. She proceeded on to the University of Arkansas (2014-15) as an assistant and then assisted Nebraska Wesleyan University (2015-16) before shifting to head coach at Hendrix.

While at Iowa, Angie coached 29 Academic All-Big Ten selections. She also mentored two All-SEC performers at Arkansas, two All-GPAC choices at Nebraska Wesleyan and helped the Huskers to two Big 12 titles and a NCAA Final Four appearance. Angie has also worked with major club programs in the Lincoln, Omaha and Iowa City areas. Additionally, she serves on the AVCA Head Coaches Committee and mentors coaches through the AVCA Mentoring program.

Ben and Angie have a son, Brady, and a daughter, Addison. Angie graduated from Nebraska with a degree in Education in 2006 and earned a master’s in Sport Management from Alabama in 2008.