Baseball coach leaves Concordia after two record-breaking seasons

Photo description: Jaidan Quinn rounds third base and hits a pose with Coach Lang after hitting a home run.

Photo credit: Caleb Lemon

Caleb Lemon

Sower Staff

A young baseball coach from New York took a leap of faith when accepting a job in a small town in Nebraska, leading his players to reset most of the offensive records during his time as a hitting coach at Concordia from 2020-2022.

Now he is leaving, with an appreciation for what he learned in Seward.

Caleb Lang grew up in a small town just outside of Buffalo. Although being from New York, the big city lifestyle was not something he knew, and that was perfect for his move to a small town in Nebraska. Lang grew up hunting and fishing and his grandparents were dairy farmers.

All these activities are familiar to small town Nebraskans.

From a baseball standpoint, Lang knew he was coming to a winning program with expectations to win but he did not know he would coach such talent offensively.

Offensively, there are 22 possible records to be broken, and under Lang players have broken 15 of them.

Some of the notable records broken during his tenure at Concordia were:

Most runs scored in one season by one player; Jaiden Quinn, 74

Most runs scored in a career by one player; Jay Adams, 216

Most hits in a career by one player; Jesse Garcia, 270

Most home runs in a season by one player; Joey Grabanski, 27

Most home runs in a career by one player; Joey Grabanski, 62

Most runs batted in for a season by one player; Joey Grabanski, 85

Most stolen bases in a season by one player; Zackery Day, 36

Lang also helped Concordia set the single season wins record at 42 and in the same season helped lead the program to its first ever World Series appearance in 2020.

Lang had other offers much closer to his home on the East Coast but after many talks with Coach Ryan Dupic, in person and over the phone, he knew that because of where the program was headed, it would be best for his coaching career to give the Midwest a shot.

Lang said Dupic has been a major influence on his life so far.

“He has influenced me for the better,” he said. “Dupic is a great example of what it looks like to be a great father and husband.”

He said the skills he learned from Dupic will carry on for years to come.

“I am leaving Concordia with more knowledge, skills, and wisdom of what it takes to function at a high level in coaching and life,” he said.

A skill Nebraska has taught him is patience. Even coming from a small town in New York, Lang said life still moves at a faster pace than in Nebraska.

“Although things can move fast in athletics, I feel I am okay with the process and development in the long term, compared to instant gratification,” said Lang.

Always thinking long term allows Lang to continue to grow as a coach and he said he hopes to continue this success as the coach at Clarion University, officially known as Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion.

“I enjoy competing at high levels,” he said. “I am thankful for this next step and hope to settle in and lead Clarion University to a better future.”

Many young coaches have goals they want to achieve, working their way tirelessly until they get there. Lang has a different approach, trusting in the Lord.

Lang said he needs to be at peace with wherever the Lord leads, even with the goals he has set.

“I set goals but think many times they accomplish themselves if you have the proper identity and processes in place,” he said.

The people, the passionate college atmosphere, and the faith-based education are a few reasons why Lang will miss this small town in Nebraska.

However, Lang said that some of the popular Nebraska-style fast food will not be missed at all.

“I will not miss Runza or Casey’s,” he said. “Nebraska people are very protective of those two places, but no one will ever come to steal them.”

Lang said that while he may not be back anytime soon, the people here are what makes Seward so special.

“All jokes aside, I loved the people here, but if I had to speculate, my future is on the East Coast,” he said. “However, they say if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”