WICHITA - Newman Athletics announced Lance Spongberg as the next Baseball Head Coach on Friday morning. He is the program's sixth coach all time.
Spongberg joins the Jets after spending last season as an assistant coach and pitching coach for Southeastern University. Spongberg helped lead the Fire to the NAIA National Championship Game in the 2025 season. The Fire earned National Runners-Up after falling to historic LSU Shreveport, who won the National Title with an undefeated season.
"I am very excited to join the Newman athletic department and community to establish a winning culture within the baseball program. [I] want to give the students a great experience where they can not only grow as baseball players but grow as men within our program to prepare them for everything life comes at them with as they walk out of Newman University. The discipline, expectations and standards that will be set on our team and athletes will better prepare them in their time with us," said Lance Spongberg.
Before his stint with Southeastern University, Spongberg spent three seasons as an assistant coach at William Jewell College. While at WJC, the Cardinals had three straight 30+ win seasons and earned their first GLVC postseason tournament appearance since 2018.
Spongberg spent three years at Ottawa University prior to WJC as an assistant coach. Spongberg helped lead the Braves to their first regional appearance in program history. That same season the Braves topped the KCAC, winning the conference tournament.
Spongberg also spent time at Morningside College as an assistant coach and as a head coach for the Haysville Aviators.
In his time as a collegiate baseball coach, Spongberg has coached over 30 All-Conference players including an All-American pitcher this past season.
Spongberg was a student-athlete at Morningside College where he helped the team reach NAIA Regionals. Spongberg also played for the Haysville Aviators. His playing accomplishments include: four-time GPAC All-Conference pitcher, two-time NBC World Series Qualifier, 2014 Walter Johnson League Co-Pitcher of the Year, and earned a spot on the NBC World Series All-American Team in 2014.
He then went on to play professional baseball for the Sioux City Explorers in 2016-2017.
While at Morningside, Spongberg earned his degree in Business Administration (Coaching Endorsement). He earned his Masters of Business Administration with a Leadership Development concentration from Ottawa University.
Spongberg is looking to build on the foundations of Newman Baseball. He said he is "ready as well to get in touch with the alumni of Newman University baseball to get them involved and restore a culture that I have heard is very strong and long lasting! [We will] create, grow and revitalize relationships within the Newman baseball community and the Wichita community."
Spongberg is from Sutton Nebraska originally where his parents still reside. He is married to Shannon Spongberg. Shannon is originally from Lemars, Iowa. Together they have one child, Carter, who is currently 2 years old.
"We are excited to move back to the Midwest and be closer to home and establish ourselves in the Wichita community where we spent several years through coaching and playing of summer ball for the Haysville Aviators," said Coach Spongberg.
