Director of Athletic Communications Jake Knabel: “If someone has a great story to tell, I want to make sure it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Concordia Nebraska Director of Athletic Communications Jake Knabel oversees publicity for varsity athletic programs at the university. His responsibilities within sports information revolve around press releases, feature stories, statistics, record keeping, webcasting, photography, creative content and social media management. He has served at the university for 12 years. 

“I enjoy telling the stories of our athletes and coaches. If someone has a great story to tell, I want to make sure it doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said. “I take seriously the opportunity to preserve the history of Concordia athletics and have a passion for doing that through writing. That passion also gives me the chance to get to know student-athletes on a little bit more personal level. The instances in which coaches and student-athletes have followed up to thank me for something I’ve written has always been one of the more rewarding aspects of the job and something that keeps me going through the long hours from August through May every academic year.” 

Knabel has bachelor’s degrees from the University of Iowa in journalism and health and sport studies. He is a two-time GPAC Sports Information Director of the Year winner, five-time Fred Stabley Writing Contest regional award winner, three-time winner of the Dr. W. Jack Bell Award for best feature story or season review of the year in the NAIA and a finalist for National Wrestling Media Association NAIA Wrestling SID Of the Year in 2020 and 2023. He published a book on the history of Concordia football in 2016 and serves on the AP NAIA All-America Football Committee. 

He said the people at the university are what makes Concordia a special place. 

“I truly believe it is unique in the way people go about building relationships across campus. Within athletics, there is such a positive and contagious energy,” he said. “People feed off that and create the type of environment that lends to winning GPAC All-Sports Championships. I’ve also never been at another place where the Christian influence has been so present and obvious. People here don’t just talk about it, they embody their Christian principles with their actions.”

Knabel said that Christian influence and the Christ-focused culture of the campus have definitely helped to develop his faith. 

“Being immersed in it every day, you can’t help but grow in your faith. I’m impressed almost daily at the way so many of our student-athletes discuss their faith and share it openly, without being prompted,” he said. “That is so different from what I experienced while attending a public high school and university. Sometimes I get so focused on the daily routine that I lose sight of the big picture. I’m grateful for a place for Concordia Nebraska that gives constant reminders of what’s most important in our lives.” 

Knabel’s parents live in Dubuque, Iowa, in the house that he grew up in. He has an older brother and younger brother, both of whom live in the Boston area. When he’s not working, Knabel enjoys reading, especially biographies about successful athletic figures such as Bill Belichick, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Mike Krzyzewski and Nick Saban. 

“I read a lot of sports articles out of interest but also as a way to improve my own writing. Quite a few people tell me they see me out walking a lot around town, something I try to do every day,” he said. “The sports information department profession is very much a grind for nine to 10 months out of the year. It requires a lot of nights and weekend work, but you don’t do it unless you love it. When I first got to Concordia Nebraska at the age of 24, I thought this might be a place I’d be at for three to five years. I’m happy to say that it’s turned into a whole lot more. I’ve been able to see Concordia athletics thrive in ways it never had before, and I’m very proud to play some role in that success. I will be eternally grateful for Dan Oetting ’87 for taking a chance on me back in 2012. I’ve also been fortunate to have incredibly supportive athletic directors in Devin Smith CO '92 GR '01 and Angela Muller. All of that is much needed and appreciated when the grind hits hardest.”

Concordia University, Nebraska supports student-athletes as they establish success both on the field and in life. The Bulldog family is driven by the pursuit of excellence and maximizes athletic, academic, spiritual and character development within a Christ-centered community.