Coach JB's Training Philosophy
We train the athletes to continue to improve and 66% of the time that our athletes race, they are setting a new personal best. We consistently have one of the best improvements from the beginning of the year to the end of the year within the NSIC. That philosophy includes putting together individual training plans so each athlete is improving to their peak performance. The philosophy flows into the track & field indoor and outdoor seasons as well.
Steady Leadership
The 2025 season will mark the 28th leading the Golden Bears for the 2001 NSIC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. Breitbarth is the second longest tenured cross country coach in the Northern Sun and is the longest tenured head coach at Concordia-St. Paul. He was hired in January of 1998, just months before the announcement of the University's move to the NSIC and NCAA Division II affiliations starting in the 1999-00 academic year.
Immediate Impact
It didn't take long for Breitbarth to make his mark on the conference level as the women's team finished runner-up in 2000 while the men placed third in 2001. In 2002, the men took third once again while the women were paced by the top-two finishers as Emily Shoop was a conference champion followed by teammate Janet Brownawell in second place.
While the women had a runner-up finish in 2000, the men would follow-suit in 2004.
The program has also served as host for the NSIC Cross Country Championships three time, in 2006, 2012 and again in 2015.
Northern Sun Accolades
While Breitbarth earned NSIC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors in 2001, his student-athletes have been well decorated as well. In all, 30 runners have been named All-NSIC under his leadership and 165 have been named NSIC All-Academic student-athletes.
Division II Honors
Along with strong conference awards, the program has also been gaining national awards. Four athletes, two male and two female, have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, with Emily Shoop in 2004-05 and Kyle Warren in 2006-07 followed by Benjamin Allen and Kara Lindberg in 2020-21. Additionally, the team grade point averages have been consistently among Division II's finest as the two teams have combined for 22 USTFCCCA Team Academic Awards since 2005. The men's team had the top grade point average in the nation twice (2006, 2014), while finishing fifth in 2013, sixth in 2012 and ninth in 2007. On the women's side, the squad achieved a program-best eighth-ranked GPA in Division II in 2019 while adding five other top-40 finishes in the classroom since 2005.
In all, the men and the women have each achieved the USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team Award 13Â times.
Campus Leadership
While Breitbarth continues to excel in his leadership role as a coach, he is also a key member of the University as Director of Computer Services. In this role, he's able to display his leadership qualities while observing and interacting with the student-athletes and campus body in a classroom and library setting.
He was also selected to participate and represent Concordia-St. Paul in a leadership cohort of the Concordia University System where each Concordia was represented by one faculty/staff member to meet online to discuss key leadership concepts.
College Background
A two-time Concordia Chiapuzio Award nominee and a senior nominee for Concordia Athlete of the Year, Breitbarth earned the Chiapuzio Award as a senior for the student-athlete who best demonstrated the Christian values tht the late John Chiapuzio demonstrated. He excelled in the classroom as a Dean's List student every quarter, graduating Cum Laude while studying social sciences and Lutheran education.
As a runner, he was the Small School Championships individual winner as a junior, also being named to the All-Concordia Invitational Tournament. As a senior, he was UMAC runner-up and an NAIA Great Plains All-Region performer, finishing in the top half of the NAIA national meet.
In track, he left Concordia with seven school records and was the UMAC Champion in the 800 meter run, 4x800 and 4x400 meter relays. Serving as anchor of the 4x800 relay, the team took 16th at the NAIA National Indoor Championships.
Prior to joining the Comets, Breitbarth spent his first two years of college at St. John's University where he was a letter winner for two years in cross country and track & field for the Johnnies. He placed eighth in the MIAC meet in the 1500 meter run.
Prep Days on the Iron Range
He was raised on Minnesota's Iron Range in Chisolm, Minn. and at Chisolm High School participated in cross country, hockey, baseball and track & field. He earned 10 total letters as a prep athlete, with five coming in cross country. He was All-Iron Range Conference twice in cross country and twice in track & field, qualifying for the Minnesota State Track & Field meet as a sophomore in the 1600 meter run and as a senior in the 800 meter run. He was also a qualifier for the Minnesota State Cross Country meet.
Personal
His coaching background also includes serving as assistant coach at Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, Minn.
He is married to Heidi (Handrick) Breitbarth, who has also assisted him with the cross country coaching for a number of years. They reside in Bloomington with their son, Reese and daughters, Liv and Truly.
