Ryan Burgner named interim athletic director

Ryan Burgner is ready to step into a new role at Western Nebraska Community College.

Burgner, the assistant baseball coach and assistant athletic director, has been appointed interim athletic director, taking over for Jennifer Pedersen, who resigned the position in April. Pedersen’s last day at WNCC was June 4 and Burgner’s first day as athletic director was June 7.

The new assistant to the athletic director will also come from within the department. Todd Rasnic, men’s and women’s soccer coach, will take on those duties on an interim basis.

The positions will be considered for regular appointment next year.

Burgner’s goal is to keep building the Cougar athletic program in a winning direction.

“I am excited for the opportunity to keep leading the athletic department in the direction that Coach Pedersen has established in the classroom, on the field, and in the community,” he said. “She has done a great job of getting Cougar athletics back on the map. We will miss her greatly.”

Burgner knows firsthand what the role of an athletic director is, having worked as Pedersen’s assistant over the last five years.

“I have worked pretty close with Coach Ped on everything we have done,” he said. “There are a few things I will have to learn and get better at. But I know I am up to the challenge of progressing Cougar athletics into the future.”

The one thing that will remain constant in the athletic department is the Cougar’s positive visibility in the community. Burgner cites the community and WNCC administration support as a huge part of its success as an athletic department.

“We want the community to take pride in our athletic department. I know that our student athletes appreciate the support they receive from the community and school.”

Both men have been at the college for awhile. Burgner came to WNCC in 2002 as an assistant coach for baseball. Burgner graduated from Manzano High in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1994, and played baseball at Dodge City Community College under current WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones. Burgner earned All-Jayhawk West Conference as a pitcher.

After Dodge City, he went on to play at Iowa State where he got his degree in sports management. He was also with the Albuquerque Dukes, a Triple A affiliate to the LA Dodgers as the director of ticket operations and assistant general manager. He came to WNCC after spending a year and a half as pitching coach at Northeastern Junior College.

Rasnic took over the men’s soccer program in 2005 and then the women’s program in 2006. Rasnic has over 33 years of soccer experience and has instilled good discipline and integrity to the program.

Rasnic was an NACA all-American in soccer in 1983, leading his team to both a state and national tournament victory recording 28 goals and 17 assists. In 1992, he joined the American Youth Soccer Organization and has volunteered coaching and referring for the past 15 years. He holds coaching licenses from AYSO and the NSCAA.

In his five years at WNCC, Rasnic has a 27-46-3 record with the men’s team in five years, including nearly capturing the Region IX title last fall. He has experienced more success on the women’s side. In four years, Rasnic has a 35-28-5 record, including winning the Region IX title in 2008. Last season, the women’s team lost the regional championship game in a shootout.

Rasnic is excited about his new position.

“I think it will be a good change of focus for me. I have spent the last few years setting up community education classes and working with community coordinators,” he said. “It will be an interesting switch to be involved directly in the athletic department. I think it will be better, in a sense, because I can be more visible to my students. I think things will continue to move in a positive direction because we’re all focused on the overall success of the athletic program here.”

Burgner and Rasnic said they have big shoes to fill in filling Pedersen’s accomplishments.

“I would suspect that we could have hired six people to fill Ped’s shoes,” Rasnic said. “There are a lot of people on my list that I admire for their work ethic and their overall success in the program, and Ped has done an absolutely fabulous job with the athletic department. Ryan and I have big shoes to fill. We are just going to do the best we can. Obviously there will be a learning curve and hopefully we will hit the ground running and continue to provide excellent game activities, concessions, and everything in between, including the department’s fundraising efforts. Our goal is to continue the traditions that Ped established.”