Professor of Theology
Rev. Dr. Dean Vieselmeyer earned a B.S. at Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska in 1970, Master of Divinity in 1974 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, M. S. in Human Development and Family in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Education: Administration and Curriculum/Instruction in 1989 from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
From 1974 to 1977, Dean served as an instructor of religion and coached football, wrestling, track and supervised the strength and conditioning program at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. From 1977-1985, he served at Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska, as Director of Student Life, Assistant Professor of Theology, Assistant Football Coach, and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. In 1985, Dean came to Christ College/Concordia University Irvine as Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Services. In 2000 Dean became the Executive Vice President for Community and Church Relations. Then in 2008, he agreed to help launch the Online Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration (MCAA) program in which he had been teaching MCAA 530 Ethics and Sport since 2004.
As Dean’s two boys grew up in Tustin, he coached Junior All-American Football, NJB Basketball, Little League, and Pony Baseball. In 1993, Dean added a position and 24-year tenure as Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach, and Leadership Coordinator at Orange Lutheran High School. In 2019, Dean was an Assistant Defensive Line Coach for Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s Freshman Football team. Today Dean divides his time between teaching and recruiting for the MCAA program (Texas), grandchildren, the fitness center, travel, and golf with Dian.
Dean conducts seminars, workshops, and Bible studies on leadership, team building, conflict resolution, self-esteem, behavioral styles, strategies for success, and family issues. He is a speaker in congregations and schools, district pastoral and teacher conferences, and national youth conferences. He was a presenter at the National Noel Levitz Retention Conference, the National NASPA Conference on the development of the whole person, and a seminar in Indonesia for 14 Christian Universities on student development and character building. Dean has many passions, but developing character in sport is #1!
In 2006, Dean was inducted into the Concordia University Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach for the 1980 Bulldog football team. In 2017, Dean was inducted into the Orange Lutheran High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach for the 2006 OLU Lancer Football State Championship team. In 2019, Dean was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the MCAA program at Concordia. Dean and Dian were recognized with the Lifelong Learner Award at Concordia University NE in 2019.
Dean and Dian live in Tustin, CA. They have two sons. Brent, his wife Marnie, and daughters Payton (15) and Quinn (12) live in Falls Church, VA, where Brent is a defensive position coach for the Washington Football Team, and Marnie is an executive at Quest Diagnostics. Brad and Dana live in Midland, TX, with sons Garin (12) and Owen (10). Brad is Operations Support Manager for the Mid-Continent Business Unit at Chevron, and Dana is a registered nutritionist and dietician. Dean and Dian’s favorite titles are “Nana and Papa.
The strengths of the MCAA program are that it is practical, coaches can apply the content immediately, and it comes from the Christian perspective.
Education
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln, M.S., 1982; Ph.D. 1989
- Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL, M.Div., 1974
- Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE, B.S.Ed., 1970
Professional Experience
- Concordia University since 1985
- Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE, 1977-85
- Milwaukee Lutheran High School, WI, 1974-77