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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 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:  Troy Bergt

Coach Bergt is from Omaha Nebraska and serves as the JV Head Coach 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:  David Schumacher

Coach Schumacher is from Bellevue Nebraska and started coaching at LSE in 2017.  He coaches the Varsity Running Backs and Outside Linebackers.  Coach Schumacher is also the JV Offensive Coordinator and he teaches Chemistry 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:  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 as the Varsity Receivers Coach.  Coach Plagge teaches Social Studies at Culler Middle School and is also an Assistant Baseball Coach for Lincoln Southeast.

Volunteer Assistant Coach:  Justin Freitag

Coach Freitag is from Superior Nebraska and works with the Inside Receivers and Outside Linebackers.   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.

Volunteer Assistant Coach:  Nathaniel Gifford

Coach Gifford is from Lincoln Nebraska and he will enter his first season working with the Running Backs and Linebackers.  He is a 2021 LSE Graduate and he played on 3 Playoff Teams at Lincoln Southeast.

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 Defensive backs.  Coach Jones is also the Head Baseball Coach at Lincoln Southeast.

9th Grade Assistant Coach:  Doug Miller

Coach Miller is from North Platte Nebraska and is a member of the LSE Athletics Hall of Fame.  He was the Defensive Coordinator for 7 State Championship Teams and has returned from retirement to Coordinate the LSE 9th Grade Defense.  Coach Miller also works as a substitute teacher for Lincoln Public Schools.

9th Grade Assistant Coach:  Noah Brittenham

Coach Brittenham is from Lincoln Nebraska and is a 2016 LSE Graduate.  He will enter his 1st Season coaching the Offensive and Defensive Lines for the 9th Grade Team.  Coach Brittenham also teaches Social Studies at Mickle Middle School.