Bio

Rick Schmuecker arrived at Doane in August 2001. From 2001-06 he served as Assistant Sports Information Director. He was appointed to head the department in May 2006. He was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Athletics Communications in January 2017 and to Associate Athletics Director for Athletics Communication in August 2023. His work at Doane has been led to several honors in publications and social media by the NAIA-SIDA and CoSIDA.

In 2019, Schmuecker was awarded the inaugural "Rebby", the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)/Dave Rebstock Sports Information Director of the Year award for his efforts during the 2018-19 season. He received the honor again in 2022 following a year in which Doane hosted four GPAC conference championship events.

As part of his role as Associate Athletics Director, he oversees the sports of baseball, softball, volleyball, men's soccer, competitive cheer, and competitive dance.

He is a 2001 graduate of Midland Lutheran College and holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting with a minor in coaching. He spent four years working in the MLC Sports Information Office as a student assistant and served as the baseball contact in 2001. Schmuecker was a student coach for the women's basketball teams in 1999-00 and 2000-01, assisting the team to the national tournament in 2000.

At Doane, he served as an assistant women's basketball coach under Tracee Fairbanks for nine years. He was on staff for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 teams that qualified for nationals and coached six NAIA All-Americans.

Memberships/Organizations that Schmuecker is currently a part of:

• College Sports Communicators (CSC (formally CoSIDA))
• National Wrestling Media Association (NWMA)

*NAIA-SIDA Publication honors:

• 2004-05 Football Game Day Program - 3rd
• 2005-06 Football Game Day Program - 3rd
• 2005-06 Men's Soccer Brochure - 10th
• 2005-06 Web site - 10th
• 2006-07 Football Game Day Program - 4th
• 2006-07 Web site - 10th
• 2007-08 Women's Soccer Brochure - 2nd
• 2007-08 Men's Soccer Brochure - 10th
• 2007-08 Web site - 10th
• 2008-09 Women's Soccer Brochure - 8th
• 2010-11 Women's Soccer Brochure - 7th
• 2010-11 Men's Soccer Brochure - 10th
• 2010-11 Multi-sport Brochure (Cross Country) - 8th
• 2010-11 Individual Sport Brochure (Women's Track & Field) - 4th
• 2010-11 Individual Sport Brochure (Men's Track & Field) - 5th
• 2011-12 Softball Brochure - 6th
• 2011-12 Walt McAlexander Baseball Brochure - 7th
• 2011-12 Women's Soccer Brochure - 7th
• 2013-14 Digital Media (Twitter) - 8th

CSC/CoSIDA Publication honors

• 2008-09 Special Event Program (NAIA Volleyball Championships) - 2nd

*Doane stopped making brochures following 2011-12.