(Ann Arbor, MI) – Every year, the Concordia athletic department welcomes new faces in the forms of graduate assistants. These positions are typically a two-year tenure at the university as these students work towards developing their professional aspirations through acquiring their master's degree while also serving in assistant coaching capacities for their respected sports. Graduate assistants have a myriad of responsibilities including coaching, recruiting, operations, player development and more. We asked this year's group to share a little bit on who they are. Below are the responses that were provided.

Jacob Brendtke – Sports Information (2nd Year)

• Originally from Belleville, Michigan
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Sport and Entertainment Business
• Currently in the Master's in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Strategic Marketing
• Enjoys golfing and disc golfing
• Chose CUAA for the opportunities to gain hands-on experiences in his career aspirations
• Looks forward to reaching out and impacting more people in positive and interactive methods
• Fun Fact – Played the piano for over 15 years

Matthew Franks – Athletic Training (1st Year)

• Originally from Baltimore, Maryland
• Graduated from The University of Kansas with a Bachelor's in Athletic Training
• Currently in the Master's in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Healthcare Administration
• Enjoys playing hockey, skiing, and riding his bike around Ann Arbor
• Chose CUAA for the unique opportunity to work with several teams that he has specific interests in while continuing the development of his athletic training skills
• Looks forward to working with the athletes and the athletic training professionals
• Fun Fact – Can wiggle his ears on command

Eddie Goldston – Men's Basketball (2nd Year)

• Originally from Naperville, Illinois
• Graduated from Judson University with a Bachelor's in Science Secondary Education
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys mastering the game of chess and watching professional and collegiate sports
• Chose CUAA for its great atmosphere and multitude of mentors that willingly invest their time and knowledge to teach and guide him in becoming the coach and leader he aspires to become
• Looks forward to winning a lot of games this next season
• Fun Fact - Remains undefeated in rock, paper, scissors

Juliana Gutknecht - Volleyball (2nd Year)

• Originally from Lake Balboa, California
• Graduated from San Diego Christian College with a Bachelor's in Kinesiology
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys hanging out with friends and family, especially on the lake
• Chose CUAA for the familial community, Christian atmosphere, and the ability to grow as a woman, student, and coach
• Looks forward to seeing her volleyball girls and other athletes compete
• Fun Fact – Extremely good at remembering lyrics to many songs

Bryant Hudson – Men's and Women's Track and Field (2nd Year)

• Originally from Flint, Michigan
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Sport and Entertainment Business
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys working out and collecting various sneakers
• Chose CUAA for the familial bond the university exudes and feeling known
• Looking forward to continuing the development of the track and field program
• Fun Fact – Rarely gets sick

Whitney Irmeger – Cheer (1st Year)

• Originally from Normal, Illinois
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Sport and Entertainment Business
• Currently in the Master's in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Communication and Public Relations
• Enjoys having movie nights with her friends
• Looking forward to the transition from player to coach and being able to impact athletes in new ways
• Fun Fact – Plays the trumpet

LaMont Johnson Jr. – Football (1st Year)

• Originally from Detroit, Michigan
• Graduated from St. Ambrose University with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys relaxing by practicing yoga
• Chose CUAA in order to be closer to family and the opportunity to compete in a new capacity
• Looks forward to taking the program to the national championship

Megan Laib – Softball (1st Year)

• Originally from Tinley Park, Illinois
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Justice and Public Policy
• Currently in the Master's in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Administration
• Enjoys drawing and painting
• Chose CUAA because of the family atmosphere and coaching staff
• Looking forward to the challenges of being a collegiate coach
• Fun Fact – Has the ability to pick things up with her toes

Natalie Miller – Women's Basketball (1st Year)

• Originally from Alvin, Texas
• Graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor's in Human Resource Management
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys playing with her kitten
• Chose CUAA to experience living in a different state while also gaining experience in coaching and growing in her walk with Christ
• Looks forward to coaching and building up her athletes
• Fun Fact – Loves to cook

Cooper O'Gara – Football (1st Year)

• Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in General Business
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys playing disc golf
• Chose CUAA for the caring aspect of everyone at the school
• Looks forward to taking the program to the national championship
• Fun Fact – Has a vast amount of lacrosse skill

Andrew O'Hara – Athletics (2nd Year)

• Originally from Cleveland, Ohio
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in History
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys spending time with friends and family
• Chose CUAA in order to continue to develop the program that he was able to assist in growing to the place where it is today
• Looks forwards to playing Siena Heights in football this spring
• Fun Fact – Received a scholarship to be a member in CUAA's men's choir

Hailey Paull – Men's and Women's Golf (2nd Year)

• Originally from Davisburg, Michigan
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Exercise Science
• Currently in the Master's Program for Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education
• Enjoys spending time with friends and family
• Chose CUAA for the family atmosphere
• Looks forward to being able to be on campus with athletes
• Fun Fact – Varsity player on her high school bowling team

Anthony Tucker – Men's Soccer (1st Year)

• Originally from Canton, Michigan
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Biology
• Currently in the Master's Program for a Physician Assistant
• Enjoys working out
• Chose CUAA for the loving environment and people
• Looks forward to remaining a part of a great team and program
• Fun Fact – Can walk on his hands

Jake Waldrup – Men's Lacrosse (2nd Year)

• Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Graduated from Adrian College with a Bachelor's in Business
• Currently in the Master's in Business Administration program
• Enjoys golfing
• Chose CUAA for the strong values that are instituted in every aspect of the university
• Looks forward to taking care of unfinished business from last season
• Fun Fact – Ice skated since the age of 2

Adrienne Woodruff – Women's Soccer (1st Year)

• Originally from Commerce Township, Michigan
• Graduated from CUAA with a Bachelor's in Accounting
• Currently in the Master's in Business Administration program, with a concentration in Accounting
• Enjoys visiting new places and exploring the outdoors
• Chose CUAA due to the amount of joy and great experiences she had during her undergraduate work and wanted to be a part of the coaching staff in order to share her knowledge of the game of soccer to those she knows will value it
• Looks forward to the challenges that will arise in transitioning into adulthood
• Fun Fact – Has extremely unique hiccups