Concordia College, Moorhead Men's Football

Horan has posted an eye-opening 67.3% winning percentage. He has guided Concordia to 12 top 4 finishes in the MIAC in the past 13 seasons. Horan shows no signs of resting on his early success as he has helped the Cobbers record four consecutive seven-win seasons. Concordia has recorded 31 wins in the past four years which is the second highest total of any school in the MIAC. The Cobbers have finished in the Top3 of the MIAC for four straight seasons and have won five conference games in each of the past four years. Horan has achieved several milestones in his 15 years as he continues to make the Concordia football team one of the premiere programs in the conference. In 2015 Horan became only the third coach in program history to reach the 100-win milestone. In 2007, Horan became the first coach in school history to win 50 games in the first seven seasons as head coach. He was also the fastest coach in program history to eclipse the 40-win mark in conference games. That win record was fueled by helping guide the Cobbers to the MIAC championship in 2004 and back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances in 2004 and 2005 - the first time any Cobber football team has ever achieved back-to-back playoff appearances. In his first 15 seasons of leading Concordia back to the top of the MIAC, Horan has been named MIAC Coach of the Year twice (2002 and 2004) and was named the American Football Coaches Association Region Coach of the Year in 2004. The 2016 season will feature another group of players that is more than 125 strong. Not only has Horan added quantity since taking over in 2001, but he has added a stable of high-quality players as well. He has routinely recruited athletes who have been offered NCAA scholarship money from Division I and II programs and showed them the benefit of the Concordia tradition. The coming out party for Horan and the Cobbers on the national and conference scene came in 2004 when Concordia captured their first outright MIAC championship since the 1986 season with a perfect 8-0 mark. The team finished the year with an 11-1 overall record and was ranked in the top 25 in the nation for most of the season. All told, Concordia has spent 28 consecutive weeks in the top 25 of Division III. Horan succeeded , who retired after 32 years as Concordias head coach. Before coming to Concordia Horan was the head football coach at Breckenridge High School for six years. A 1989 graduate of Concordia, Horan began his coaching career in 1991 as an assistant coach at Breckenridge. In the fall of 1993 he took over as head coach and guided the Cowboys to three state tournament appearances in the four years, from 1993 to 1996, he coached. During that time, Breckenridge reached the state title game in 1995 and was a semifinalist in 1994 and 1996. In 1997, he returned to Concordia to serve as wide receivers coach and athletic recruiting coordinator. After two years he proceeded to move back to Breckenridge to become the dean of students at the middle school and resume his head coaching duties at the high school. In his two stints as head coach at Breckenridge, his teams amassed a 56-15 record and he was named Section Coach of the Year three times and Heart-O-Lakes Coach of the Year three times. Horan was an All-American while playing at Concordia from 1985 to 1988. He still holds the school record for most touchdowns in a single season as well as reception, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns for a career. He also is the second all-time scoring leader for the Cobbers. He was a three-time All-MIAC performer and garnered All-American status in his senior year. Horan was also an All-MIAC baseball player in 1989 and had a career batting average of more than 0.350. Horan is only the eighth football coach in the schools 96 seasons of collegiate football. Before Horan, Christopherson had been the head coach since 1969 when he took over the position from Hall of Fame coach Jake Christiansen. During the 32 years under Christophersons tutelage, the Cobbers won two national championships and captured the MIAC crown 11 times. Horan and wife, Michelle, a 1992 Concordia graduate, live in Moorhead with their four children Meghan (19), Thomas (15), Tate (12) and Annie (10) and dog Luckie.

Bakken was the head football coach at Fargos Oak Grove High School from 2003 to 2007. During that time he amassed a 41-12 overall record and won the North Dakota State Championship in 2007. He helped the Grovers to five consecutive appearances in the North Dakota State High School League playoffs. In 2006 he was selected as one of the assistant coaches for the annual Shrine Bowl game. Bakken received his bachelors degree from Minot State University in 1992.He earned his masters degree from the University of Mary in 1998. Bakken played his college football for Minot State after starring for Oak Grove as a wide receiver and cornerback during high school. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Jeanne, and son, Jonah.

While at Concordia College-Moorhead since 2022, Bakken has mentored 3 First time (6 Total) 1st Team All-MIAC Football Selections.  (Chase Dockter Fall 2022 & 2023, Collin Thompson Fall 2022/2023/2024, Preston Johnson Fall 2022) Fall of 2023 also saw defensive Lineman Collin Thompson selected as the MIAC Mike Stam Award Winner, given to the Most Outstanding Lineman (Offense or Defense) in the MIAC. (Thompson is the 9th Cobber in program history to win this prestigious award and the first Concordia College Student/Athlete in a decade to receive the Mike Stam Award) Thompson was also selected as a 2023 D3FOOTBALL.COM All Region Player, as well as garnering the prestigious honor of being named D3FOOTBALL.COM All-American at his position in 2023 + 2024 D3FOOTBALL.COM Pre-Season All-American. Thompson & Dockter were also selected to the CSC Academic All-District Team in 2023 for their excellence in the classroom & performance on the gridiron. Before Concordia, Bakken was Defensive Line Coach at the University of Minnesota Crookston for 1 year in 2019 before they dropped the program, where he mentored Golden Eagle Senior Joe Warner into a first-time All-Conference NSIC pick. Warner was the first All NSIC Defensive Lineman in a decade & only Golden Eagle named in their last year of football. He had 34 tackles during his senior season, four tackles for loss, three sacks & a fumble recovery. Warners best game came with six tackles and a sack against Minnesota State University Moorhead. Prior to University of Minnesota - Crookston, Bakken joined Mayville State University in December 2016 as Defensive Line Coach. During the 2017 Spring/Fall Season for the Comets, he mentored first year player Austin Robb to be honored with NorthStar All Conference HM as well as named an NAIA Champions of Character Recipient. In 2018 Bakken was named Defensive Coordinator, then Associate Head Coach with DL/LB responsibilities & was fortunate to mentor Freshman LB Josiah Walker who was named NSAA Defensive Player of the Week, first Comet to receive that award in a decade as well as mentor DL Tyler Gay All-NSAA 2nd Team, LB Ricky Flowers All NSAA 2nd Team, DL Austin Robb All-NSAA HM, & DL Danial Simpson All NSAA HM. In 2017, Bakken served as General Manager/Defensive Coordinator of the Invaders as they transitioned into the NEFL, before being eliminated in the playoffs after capturing a share of the Western Division Regular Season Championship. 2016 saw Bakken serve as Co-Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator of the NSFL Fargo Invaders (Semi Pro) which culminated in an NSFL League Championship and Bakken being named NSFL Coach of the Year with a defense that set numerous national records. Bakken Coached High School football at Fargo Oak Grove serving as Defensive Coordinator in 2011/2012 before being named head coach through the 2015 season. Bakken began his college career at Dickinson State University as a Linebacker in 1985. Prior to the Blue Hawks, Bakken Graduated from Drake High School in Drake, North Dakota where he participated in Football, Basketball, Baseball & Track. COACHING HISTORY: 2022-Present Concordia College Defensive Line Coach 2018-2019 University of Minnesota Crookston Defensive Line Coach 2016-2018 Mayville State University D-Line Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Associate Head Coach 2014-2017 Fargo Invaders (Semi Pro) D-Line Coach, Co-Head Coach, D-Coordinator, General Manager 2007-2015 Fargo Oak Grove High School Assistant Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Head Coach [ALL CONFERENCE SELECTIONS (12):] Concordia College (6) Chase Dockter (2022 & 2023), Collin Thompson (2022/20232024), Preston Johnson (2022) University of Minnesota Crookston (1) Joe Warner (2019) Mayville State University (5) Austin Robb (2017 & 2018), Tyler Gay (2018), Ricky Flowers (2018), Danial Simpson (2018) COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (2) Concordia College-Moorhead Chase Dockter (2023) Concordia College-Moorhead - Collin Thompson (2023) MIKE STAM AWARD (MIAC CONFERENCE TOP LINEMAN O OR D) Concordia College-Moorhead - Collin Thompson (2023) D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-REGION 6 FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS (1) Concordia College-Moorhead - Collin Thompson (2023) COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN TEAM Concordia College-Moorhead - Collin Thompson (2023) D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICAN (1): Concordia College-Moorhead - Collin Thompson (2023)

Bio Jared Lozano, who was born in San Jose, Calif., grew up in Burnsville Minn., and is an alumnus of Concordia College. Lozano played in the Cobber football program from 2017-2019, then became a student coach for the 2019-2020 season due to injuries. Lozano was hired to the Cobber coaching staff in the spring of 2020 and has been coaching the running backs ever since. Lozano coached running back Peyton Mortenson to back-to-back All-Conference accolades in 2021 and 2022 as well as D3football.com All-Region Second Team honors in 2022. Lozano also assisted the 2022 Cobber offense which led the MIAC in rushing (1878 total rushing yards, 17 total rushing touchdowns). Lozano currently resides in Fargo, N.D. Coaching History: 2020 – present: Concordia College – Running Backs All-Conference Selections Concordia College (2) – Peyton Mortenson (2021-2022) All-Region selections Concordia College (1) - Peyton Mortenson (2022)

Bio Joel King was named the Offensive Line Coach on Aug. 8, 2023. He also serves as the team's Video Coordinator. King joined the Cobbers in the spring of 2022 as a graduate assistant coaching the offensive line. His other duties included assistant equipment room manager and video coordinator. King came to Concordia from Fergus Falls High School where he coached the JV Offensive Line. King graduated from Concordia and began his playing career for the Cobbers in the fall of 2016. He was a 3-year player and 2-year starter along the offensive line. He graduated in 2019 with a degree in Healthcare Administration/Long Term Care Administration. King graduated from Kennedy Secondary School in Fergus Falls, Minnesota where he played football, basketball and baseball for the Otters. He was an All-District selection his senior year and participated in the Minnesota State High School All Star Game for the North Squad. King resides in West Fargo, N.D. Coaching History: 2023-present: Concordia College - Offensive Line Coach 2022: Concordia College – Graduate Assistant / Assistant Offensive Line 2021: Kennedy Secondary School (Fergus Falls) - JV Offensive Line MIAC Rookie of the Year: Concordia College – Angel Reyes (OL)  

Bio Melvin Whitney was named the Defensive Backs Coach on Aug. 1, 2023. Whitney came to Concordia College from Oak Grove Lutheran High School where he was the team's Head Coach for seven years. While at Oak Grove, Whitney helped to place six student-athletes on college rosters. Prior to Oak Grove Lutheran, Whitney was the Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs coach for five years at Shanley HS in Fargo, ND. During his time with the Deacons, Whitney coached on a state championship team in 2012, which featured Dan Arnold, who went on to play at Wis.-Platteville and was eventually signed by the New Orleans Saints and has been in the NFL for seven years. Whitney also coached 12 First-Team All-State defensive backs and wide receivers. Whitney began his playing career in college at Northland Community and Technical College as a wide receiver. He went on to play at North Dakota State University as a defensive back. Whitney resides in Dilworth, Minn. where he has two children, Michael and Grace. Coaching History: 2023–present: Concordia College - Defensive Backs Coach 2016–2022: Oak Grove Lutheran School – Head Coach 2015: Shanley High School – Wide Receiver/Defensive Backs

Bio Noble Scott joined the coaching staff in the fall of 2023 after a stellar 4-year playing career for the Cobbers. Scotts’ primary responsibility with the Cobbers is assisting with the defensive backs and safeties.  Scott had a standout career as a defensive back for Concordia from 2018-22. During his playing days, Scott came away with 75 total tackles and had a trio of interceptions. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business/finance.  Scott came to Concordia from his hometown of Laplace, La. where he excelled as a 2-sport athlete in football and baseball.      Coaching History: 2023 - present: Concordia College – Defensive Assistant Coach