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Coaching Staff

Head Coach:  Ryan Gottula

Coach Gottula is from Table Rock Nebraska and has been the Head Coach at Lincoln Southeast since 2011.  Prior to his role as the Head Coach, he coached QB’s, DB’s & Special Teams at LSE in 2009 and 2010. He also served as the Offensive Coordinator & QB Coach at Omaha Westside from 2003 to 2008.  Coach Gottula has a career record of 90 & 50 with 11 playoff appearances, 5 Conference Championships and 1 Class A State Championship.  Coach Gottula is also an Educational Coordinator at Lincoln Southeast.

Assistant Coach:  Fred Thorne

Coach Thorne is from Lincoln Nebraska and serves as the Varsity Defensive Coordinator and Outside Linebackers coach.  He began coaching at LSE in 2011 and was a player on the 1997 and 1998 State Championship Teams at LSE.  Coach Thorne played football at the University of Nebraska and was an Academic All Big 12 player.  He teaches CAD and Weight Training at LSE.

Assistant Coach:  Andy Ryan

Coach Ryan is from Overton Nebraska and he joined the LSE staff in 2003. He worked as the Head Freshman Coach from 2004-2014.  He currently coaches the Offensive Line for the Knights and also serves as the Run Game Coordinator.  Coach Ryan teaches Physical Education at Calvert Elementary.

Assistant Coach:  Justin Freitag

Coach Freitag is from Superior Nebraska and coaches the Varsity Wide Receivers and coordinates the JV Offense.   He began coaching football at LSE in 2008 and coached Varsity TE’s from 2011 to 2013. Coach Freitag is also the Head Golf Coach at LSE and he teaches in the Special Education Department.

Assistant Coach:  Troy Bergt

Coach Bergt is from Omaha Nebraska and serves as the JV Defensive Coordinator and Varsity Defensive Line Coach.  He started his coaching career at LSE in 2005 and was the Head Freshman Coach from 2015 to 2017.  He teaches in the Social Studies Department at LSE.

Assistant Coach:  Andy Means

Coach Means is from Holdredge Nebraska and started coaching at LSE in 2023 and serves as the Varsity Defensive Backs coach.  Coach Means played Defensive back at the University of Nebraska from 1977 to 1980.  Prior to coaching at Lincoln Southeast, Coach Means was the Head Coach at Millard South High School where he won 136 games and was the Class A State Championship Coach in 2009.

Assistant Coach:  David Schumacher

Coach Schumacher is from Bellevue Nebraska and started coaching at LSE in 2017.  He coaches the Varsity Running Backs and Safeties.  Coach Schumacher teaches Chemistry and also coaches Wrestling at LSE.

Assistant Coach:  Ben Buettenback

Coach Buettenback is from Hastings Nebraska and has coached at LSE since 2021 working with the Inside LB’s and TE’s.  Coach Buettenback played LB at the University of Nebraska from 1995 to 1999.  He was an Academic All Big 12 selection in 1998 and 1999.

Head 9th Grade Coach:  Montana Jones

Coach Jones is from Lincoln Nebraska and began coaching football at LSE in 2015.  Coach Jones took over as the Head Freshman Coach in 2018 and works with Wide Receivers and Linebackers.  Coach Jones is also the Head Baseball Coach at Lincoln Southeast.

Assistant Coach:  Nolan Plagge

Coach Plagge is from West Point Nebraska and began coaching football at Lincoln Southeast in 2022.  He was a 1st Team All State Football player at Guardian Angels CC in 2016 and he works at the Offensive Coordinator for the 9th Grade Team.  Coach Plagge teaches Social Studies at Culler Middle School and is also an Assistant Baseball Coach for Lincoln Southeast.

Assistant Coach:  Chad Blatchford

Coach Blatchford is from Laurel Nebraska and coaches the 9th Grade Offensive Line and Defensive Line.  He has worked as both a teacher and coach at Lincoln Southeast since 1994 and has been a part of multiple State Championship Teams.  Coach Blatchford teaches in the Social Studies Department at LSE.