Concordia University, St. Paul Women's Cross Country

Breitbarth is the second longest tenured cross country coach in the Northern Sun and is the longest tenured head coach at Concordia-St. Paul. He was hired in January of 1998, just months before the announcement of the University's move to the NSIC and NCAA Division II affiliations starting in the 1999-00 academic year. Immediate Impact It didn't take long for Breitbarth to make his mark on the conference level as the women's team finished runner-up in 2000 while the men placed third in 2001. In 2002, the men took third once again while the women were paced by the top-two finishers as Emily Shoop was a conference champion followed by teammate Janet Brownawell in second place. While the women had a runner-up finish in 2000, the men would follow-suit in 2004. The program has also served as host for the NSIC Cross Country Championships three time, in 2006, 2012 and again in 2015. Northern Sun Accolades While Breitbarth earned 2001 NSIC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2001, his student-athletes have been well decorated as well. In all, 24 runners have been named All-NSIC under his leadership and 97 have been named NSIC All-Academic student-athletes (thru 2015). Division II Honors Along with strong conference awards, the program has also been gaining national awards. Two athletes, one male and one female, have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, Emily Shoop in 2004-05 and Kyle Warren in 2006-07. Additionally, the team grade point averages have been consistenly among Division II's finest as the two teams have combined for 14 USTFCCCA Team Academic Awards since 2005. The men's team had the top grade point average in the nation twice (2006, 2014), while finishing fifth in 2013, sixth in 2012 and ninth in 2007. On the women's side, the squad achieved the eighth-ranked GPA in Division II in 2005 while adding a pair of other top-40 finishes in the classroom the next two years.. In all, the men and the women have each achieved the USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team Award seven times. Campus Leadership While Breitbarth continues to excel in his leadership role as a coach, he is also a key member of the University as Director of Computer Services. In this role, he's able to display his leadership qualities while observing and interacting with the student-athletes and campus body in a classroom and library setting. He was also selected to participate and represent Concordia-St. Paul in a leadership cohort of the Concordia University System where each Concordia was represented by one faculty/staff member to meet online to discuss key leadership concepts. College Background A two-time Concordia Chiapuzio Award nominee and a senior nominee for Concordia Athlete of the Year, Breitbarth earned the Chiapuzio Award as a senior for the student-athlete who best demonstrated the Christian values tht the late John Chiapuzio demonstrated. He excelled in the classroom as a Dean's List student every quarter, graduating Cum Laude while studying social sciences and Lutheran education. As a runner, he was the Small School Championships individual winner as a junior, also being named to the All-Concordia Invitational Tournament. As a senior, he was UMAC runner-up and an NAIA Great Plains All-Region performer, finishing in the top half of the NAIA national meet. In track, he left Concordia with seven school records and was the UMAC Champion in the 800 meter run, 4x800 and 4x400 meter relays. Serving as anchor of the 4x800 relay, the team took 16th at the NAIA National Indoor Championships. Prior to joining the Comets, Breitbarth spent his first two years of college at St. John's University where he was a letter winner for two years in cross country and track & field for the Johnnies. He placed eighth in the MIAC meet in the 1500 meter run. Prep Days on the Iron Range He was raised on Minnesota's Iron Range in Chisolm, Minn. and at Chisolm High School participated in cross country, hockey, baseball and track & field. He earned 10 total letters as a prep athlete, with five coming in cross country. He was All-Iron Range Conference twice in cross country and twice in track & field, qualifying for the Minnesota State Track & Field meet as a sophomore in the 1600 meter run and as a senior in the 800 meter run. He was also a qualifier for the Minnesota State Cross Country meet. Personal He is working to complete a master's degree in Christian outreach. His coaching background also includes serving as assistant coach at Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, Minn. He is married to Heidi (Hancock) Breitbarth, who has also assisted him with the cross country coaching for a number of years. They reside in Bloomington with their son, Reese and daughter, Liv.