CRETE, NE — Doane is pulling its new Director of Athletics from the same football program where it found its new university president.
Doane announced Wednesday that Mark Wateska will be the University’s next Director of Athletics. He takes over for Matt Franzen, who left Doane to become head football coach at Hastings College in December. Doane alum Jeff Johnson came out of retirement to lead the Athletic Department until a new AD was picked.
Wateska has served as director of strength and conditioning for Stetson football under head coach Roger Hughes since 2015. Hughes was named the new Doane University president on May 7.
“Having been involved in intercollegiate athletics my entire professional career, first as a student-athlete, coach and then progressing to an assistant athletic director has prepared me for the challenges of being an athletic director,” Wateska said in a news release. “The opportunity to lead the athletic department at Doane University where I can have a positive impact not only on the student-athletes, but coaches and staff is something I have strived for and is a natural progression for me. Working alongside President Hughes, who I have grown to know and respect, and has a great understanding of both academics and athletics, is a very exciting opportunity and one that I look forward to.”
Wateska played football at Penn State and won a national title under legendary coach Joe Paterno in 1986. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1989 and a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science with an emphasis in Sports Administration from Penn State in 1991.
Since leaving State College, Wateska has worked for the Philadelphia Eagles, Boston College, Maine, Stanford and Indiana. He was head strength coach at Maine and Stanford and was elevated to Assistant Athletic Director of Strength and Conditioning at Indiana.
In addition to his strength coaching at Stetson, Wateska was a member of the Senior Administrative staff and the sport administrator for women’s lacrosse. He served on Stetson’s COVID-19 action committee.
Wateska will direct the overall administrative and operational activities of intercollegiate athletics for Doane University’s 22 athletic teams.
