Andrew Baker is in his first season as the defensive backs coach for the TLU Bulldogs. Baker, a native of Copperas Cove, Texas, comes to TLU after three years as an assistant coach with the Trinity University Tigers. Baker was a graduate assistant for the Tigers in 2006 and was a full assistant on the Trinity staffs of 2007 and 2008.

 

Baker graduated from Trinity in 2006. He was a psychology major and earned a bachelor’s of arts degree.

 

Baker played all four years at Trinity and was a two-year starter. He was a member of the 2002 Trinity squad that played for the NCAA Division III national championship. He also played on Trinity’s NCAA Division III playoff squads in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

 

Baker was a starter for the Tigers at cornerback in 2004 and 2005. He was a member of four Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships while at Trinity.

 

Baker is the son of Andrew Sr. and Betheena Baker. He has a younger brother Antonio and an older sister Andreaus. Baker also has a niece, Abriannah, and a nephew, Elijah.

 

In his spare time, Baker enjoys cooking.

 

 
 

 

Biesemeyer, a native of Claremore, Okla., joins the TLU Bulldogs’ coaching staff for the 2009 season. A graduate of Claremore High School and the University of Oklahoma, Biesemeyer coached at California Lutheran University for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

 

While at California Lutheran, Biesemeyer worked with the defensive backs in 2007 and with the defensive line in 2008. California Lutheran was 9-1 in 2007 and 6-3 in 2008.

 

Biesemeyer holds a bachelor’s of science degree in astro-physics from Oklahoma. He graduated from OU in 2005.

 

Biesemeyer is the son of Brett Biesemeyer. Ryan has a step-mother, Paige, and a brother, two sisters, and two step-brothers.

 

 

 

Chris Castillo is in his second season as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator. Castillo enters his eighth season in collegiate football coaching.

 

Castillo previously worked as the defensive line coach at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. Castillo was the defensive line coach for three seasons at Humboldt State and spent one year as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator, also at Humboldt State.

 

Castillo also spent time at California Lutheran University, where for two years he was the defensive line coach.

 

Castillo is a 2001 graduate of Humboldt State. He received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

 

Castillo and his wife Leora have a 5-year-old daughter Carleigh. Coach Castillo is a native of Palmdale, Calif. He is the son of Nick and Denise Castillo.

 

 

 

Steven Fiala joins the Bulldogs’ coaching staff for a second consecutive season as a student assistant after playing three seasons for TLU. Fiala, a defensive back, lettered three seasons and played in 21 career varsity games and recorded 23 total tackles.

 

Fiala, an El Campo, Texas native, is finishing his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Fiala is the son of Allan and Debbie Fiala.

 

 

 

Mike Janak is in his second year as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs. For 2009, Janak adds the title of fullbacks coach to his tight end coaching duties. In 2008, Janak moved from starting tight end to coaching tight ends. Janak spent four years as a TLU tight end and started in three of those seasons. Janak finished his four-year career with 31 catches for 399 yards with three touchdowns.

 

Janak is the son of Patrick and Joan Janak and of Roger and Daula Upton. Mike graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in English.

 

Janak is a native of Santa Fe, Texas and a graduate of Santa Fe High School.

 

 

 

Mark Konopka, a native of Sterling Heights, Mich., joins the Bulldogs’ football coaching staff for the 2009 season. A four-year starter at Iowa State University, Konopka brings collegiate and professional playing experience plus 12 years of football coaching experiences to TLU.

 

Konopka graduated from Warren High School in Warren, Mich., before traveling to Ames, Iowa to begin his collegiate football career. He was an All-State offensive and defensive lineman at Warren High School. At Iowa State, Konopka was an Honorable Mention All-Big 8 offensive lineman in his senior year.

 

Konopka started as an offensive guard at Iowa State and earned a bachelor’s of science in sociology from the university.

 

After Iowa State, Konopka played in the Arena Football League for three seasons. He played for the Florida Bobcats, the Albany Firebirds, and the Iowa Barnstormers. He played nose tackle and center in the AFL. While with the Barnstormers, Konopka was a teammate of current NFL quarterback and former NFL Most Valuable Player Kurt Warner.

 

Konopka coached two seasons of high school football in Michigan during the AFL off-season. After his AFL career concluded, Konopka began his collegiate coaching career. He has had stops at Belhaven College (Miss.), Morningside College (Iowa), Dakota State (S.D.), University of Minnesota-Morris, Western Connecticut State, St. Paul’s College (Va.), Independence Community College (Kan.), Cheyney University (Pa.), Southwestern Mississippi Community College, and Western Washington University.

 
 

 

 

Volunteer Assistant, Tight Ends
 

John Lynch joins the Bulldogs’ coaching staff for 2009 as a volunteer assistant. He will work with the tight ends. An Air Force veteran after 21 years of service, Lynch played and coached football overseas within the military. He was a defensive assistant coach for two seasons on a team with the military overseas.

 

Lynch graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and graduated from Webster University with a master’s degree in public administration.

 

After serving in the military, Lynch was a federal law enforcement officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

 

Lynch and his wife Laurie have two adult sons, John and Steven. Lynch enjoys scuba diving and sky diving in his spare time.

 

 

Assistant Coach, QBs and WRs
lorth@tlu.edu
(830) 372-6966
 

Lou Orth is in his first season with the Bulldogs. He will serve as the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator and as the team’s coach for quarterbacks and wide receivers. Orth comes to TLU from Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, where he served as the offensive coordinator.

 

Prior to his time at Cheyney, Orth coached at Fairleigh Dickinson and at Delaware Valley College. At Delaware Valley College, he was part of a team that posted a 9-2 record after going 2-8 in 2002. Delaware Valley beat the College of New Jersey to win the Eastern College Athletic Conference Southeast Championship.

 

Orth coached at Western Connecticut State University in 2002, at Cheyney University in 2000 and 2001, with NFL Europe in 1999, and at Ursinus College in 1999.

 

Orth started his collegiate football coaching career in 1993 at Widener University, where he stayed until 1999. He helped Widener to back-to-back Middle Atlantic Conference Championships in 1994 and 1995.

 

Orth lives in Harleysville, Pa. with his wife Fran and their two children: Louie (8) and Emily (4). Lou would like to recognize and thank his wife Fran for all of her support throughout the years.

 

 

 

Pierce has been with TLU Football for six years. He has worked as a film assistant, equipment manager and as a student assistant coach for the defensive line.

 

Pierce, a native of Parrish, Alab., graduated from Parrish High School and attended Walker College in Alabama.

 

Pierce is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served one year in Iraq with the U.S. Army. Pierce is a staff sergeant. He is currently a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.

 

Pierce graduated from TLU in May 2009, and he has his teaching certification.

 

 

 

Bill Sweda is the director of football operations for TLU Football. Sweda oversees many of the behind-the-scenes details and functions that are of vital importance to the football program. He is in his second year as the director of football operations. Sweda coached the Bulldog tight ends in 2007.

 

Sweda joined the Texas Lutheran football staff for the 2007 season after working in the Texas public school system for 35 years. Sweda made coaching stops at Somerset and Converse Judson and worked in the San Antonio Independent School District and the Northeast Independent School District. Sweda retired in 2007 from the San Antonio ISD, where he was employed as a special education coordinator.

 

Coach Sweda was a general football assistant at Converse Judson at the same time Coach Dennis Parker was on the Converse Judson coaching staff. Sweda and Parker worked together with the offensive line and the running backs.

 

Coach Sweda has been married 40 years. He and his wife Starla have two children: Stephanie and Brian. The Swedas have four grandchildren: Tayrn (12), Collin (11), Kylie (3), and Dane (1).

 

Coach Sweda has a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master’s degree from Trinity University. Coach Sweda met his wife at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio while they both served in the U.S. Army.

 

Coach Sweda is active at MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio, where he currently serves as president of the congregation. In his spare time, Sweda enjoys model trains, golf and spoiling his grandkids.

 



 

 

 

Colin Williams joins the Bulldogs’ coaching staff as a student assistant after playing three seasons and earning three varsity letters with the Bulldogs. Williams, a former defensive lineman, is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, and a graduate of Corpus Christi’s Carroll High School.

 

Williams is a kinesiology major with a minor in business. He is the son of Charlie and Iris Williams of Corpus Christi.

 

Williams is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He enjoys cooking and listening to music.