Bio

Lonnie Pries was named Vice President for Athletics & Student Affairs on Monday, January 13, 2025.

He will oversee the entire athletic program including 19 sports and the coaching staff, and lead all Student Affairs departments including Residence Life and Student Conduct. The Director of Athletics and Director of Housing report to Pries.

Pries spent the previous eleven seasons as the Director of Athletics at Concordia University, serving soley in that role since stepping down as head football coach on November 15, 2016.

Concordia won four national championships during Pries' tenure as Athletic Director, including Stephanie Johnston becoming a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national champion in the Marathon (2018), an NAIA Cheer National Championship (2019), a pair of National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) Baseball National Championships (2019, 2022), and an NCCAA Softball Championship (2023). There have also been 25 NAIA National Qualifiers and 20 WHAC Champions in his time with the Cardinals since 2013.

Before accepting the position at Concordia Ann Arbor, Pries had been the head football coach of his alma mater, Concordia University Chicago (CUC) since 2006. He returned to CUC after the Cougars went winless in 2004 and 2005. Since taking over the program Pries led the Cougars to a 42-29 record, including three 8-2 seasons and a 10-1 record this past season. The Cougars won two Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) championships and made an NCAA III playoff appearance in 2012 under Pries guidance. For his efforts at Concordia Chicago Pries was named the 2012 NAC Coach of the Year and was named NAC Co-Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2011.

Prior to heading back to his alma mater Pries coached a combined 13 years at St. John Lutheran High School in Ocala, Florida and Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Wisconsin. He was given the task of rebuilding both of the school's programs. Among his former players is Nick Roach, the former Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders strongside linebacker in their 4-3 defense.

Coach Pries had this to say about his new opportunity, "“Throughout my career working with students, staff and faculty, my focus has been to provide the most meaningful experience possible for everyone I work with to ensure we achieve our goals. I am really looking forward to working at Cleary, and getting involved with local community advocacy and partnership efforts. I am honored to be selected for this integral leadership position."

Pries earned his B.A. in Secondary Education/English from Concordia University Chicago and his M.S. in Education-Counseling from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2001. He and his wife Jennie are the parents of Kaylie, Aliyah, and Layne.