Loper Athletic Department promotes four members of staff

Nebraska-Kearney Athletic Director Paul Plinske announced today the promotion of four members of the Loper Athletic Department, effective immediately.

Rich Brodersen has been promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director, Bill Murphy has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Dalton Jensen has been elevated to Head Assistant Wrestling Coach and Cale Holscher has been promoted to full-time status as the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach.

“After a year of my own review as well as feedback from our coaches, staff and community members, I am pleased to recognize these valued members of our staff who have done exemplary work,” said Plinske. “Each has made a significant and lasting impact on our student-athletes and 17 varsity sport programs. Their overall focus on positioning Loper Athletics for future success in the MIAA and Division II is greatly valued and appreciated, especially as we embark on our third year in this new conference.”

RICH BRODERSEN

A UNK graduate and McCook native, Brodersen has been the Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs as well as serving as the public address announcer and game manager for many Loper home games.

Brodersen coordinates scheduling for the Health & Sports Center and procures volunteers and paid workers for all athletic related activities. Furthermore, he writes and processes all athletic contracts, is the Athletic Department liaison to Facilities, and is the Director of Championship/Meet Director for NCAA, conference or high school events held at UNK.

Since 1990, he has served as UNK’s main public address announcer and has also announced for the NCAA, MIAA RMAC, NSAA and Nebraska-Lincoln.

“Rich will be responsible to strategically elevate our multimedia presence and production with the goal of launching Loper Vision in the near future. Rich will also serve in an elevated role of providing greater service to our external constituents such as the Kearney Visitors Bureau, Nebraska School Activities Association, MIAA and NCAA,” said Plinske.

BILL MURPHY

The 2014-15 season marks the 20th year that Murphy will serve as UNK’s Head Athletic Trainer. A native of Hershey, he received the 2013 George F. Sullivan Athletic Trainer of the Year Award at the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association business meeting in Tulsa, Okla.

Holding degrees from UNL and UNK, he oversees the delivery of medical care for all 17 NCAA sports at UNK, as well as teaching in the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) program and Physical Education department.

“Bill will oversee the health and well-being of our student-athletes while working with coaches and staff on strategically planning for enhanced student-athlete experiences,” said Plinske. “He’s been instrumental in doing this for many years, but formally recognizing his role is important to the overall development of our staff and athletic department.”

DALTON JENSEN

Jensen, from Missouri Valley, Iowa., has been an assistant to Marc Bauer the past two years. Beginning his career at Iowa State, he transferred to UNK and promptly finished as national runner-up in 2011 before winning the national title at 141 lbs. a year later.

Since becoming a coach, he has been instrumental in seeing the Lopers win the 2013 national title and placing second last winter. The Lopers have also won two MIAA Tournament crowns and had 12 All-Americans since Jensen joined the coaching staff.

“Dalton came to UNK to compete for national championships. Not only did he reach the pinnacle of success as a wrestler, but he helped elevate our wrestling program as a graduate assistant,” said Bauer. “We are ecstatic to have Dalton as our head assistant. He will work closely with Coach Bauer in giving our student-athletes an outstanding experience while competing for conference and national championships.”

CALE HOLSCHER

Holscher, a UNK graduate and former Loper football player, has been elevated to full-time status after serving as a part-time employee last season.

About to enter his fourth year as an assistant to head strength & conditioning coach Jon Larsen, the Ogallala native is the main coach for Loper women’s soccer, wrestling and track & field teams. He assists Larsen with keeping the other Loper teams in top form as well.

“Cale’s elevation to full time will enable UNK to better serve all 450 student-athletes in the highly competitive MIAA. Jon Larsen will continue to serve as the director, but the two of them together will make for an outstanding tandem in Loper Strength and Conditioning,” said Plinske.

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