Bethany College announces Laura Moreno as interim athletic director
March 22, 2019
LINDSBORG, Kan. – Bethany College announced on Friday that Laura Moreno ’09 will serve as interim athletic director.
“Coach Moreno has the right set of skills, competitive drive, and core values to serve as an excellent leader of our athletics division. She is the quintessential Bethany alumna, a successful professional who loves God and who loves people,” said Bethany President, Will Jones.
Moreno will immediately take on this role along with her duties as head softball coach. Her appointment as interim athletic director is for one year.
“I would like to thank President Jones for entrusting me to serve as the interim athletic director. As a Bethany alumna, I am honored, humbled, and excited for the opportunity to help lead the Bethany College Athletics Division,” Moreno said. “Bethany is a tremendous institution that holds a special place in my heart and I am thrilled to work with a quality group of coaches, students, staff, faculty, and administration. Rockar Stockar, Go Swedes!”
Moreno has been a member of the Bethany College community since she arrived as a student on campus in August of 2007. She was a two-year member of the Bethany softball team and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Moreno served as an assistant softball coach for the Swedes for a year before moving to a head coaching position at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kan. She was at Brown Mackie from August 2013 to July 2015. While at Brown Mackie, Moreno led her team to two NJCAA Region VI Tournament qualifications and a 27-26 record in 2012, the most wins in over 11 years of the program. Her team earned an average GPA of 3.0 in 2013 and 3.2 in 2012, earning NJCAA All-Academic Team honors in 2012. During this time, Moreno also recruited the most softball student-athletes in school history.
Moreno then returned to Bethany to serve as an assistant softball coach, athletics administrative assistant, and assistant sports information director. After two years, Moreno stepped into the head softball coaching position, adding the responsibilities of Assistant Athletic Director in September of 2017.
While serving as a head coach at Bethany, Moreno has maintained a 45-plus program roster. She also coached 17 All-Kansas Collegiate Athletics Conference (KCAC) selections, 27 KCAC Scholar Athletes, 14 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, and helped lead the 2016 team to a KCAC Tournament Championship Runner-Up finish. Moreno serves as the Bethany College Champion of Character liaison to the KCAC and her teams earned KCAC Team of Character honors in 2017 and 2018. Moreno has also served on Bethany College Staff Senate and the Strategic Planning Committee.
“At the end of this year, it is my hope to name Coach Moreno as the dean of athletics. This period of time will provide her with an opportunity to earn the position and to decide if full-time athletic administration is a vocation she would like to pursue,” President Jones stated.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free
service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.eduand is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
“Coach Moreno has the right set of skills, competitive drive, and core values to serve as an excellent leader of our athletics division. She is the quintessential Bethany alumna, a successful professional who loves God and who loves people,” said Bethany President, Will Jones.
Moreno will immediately take on this role along with her duties as head softball coach. Her appointment as interim athletic director is for one year.
“I would like to thank President Jones for entrusting me to serve as the interim athletic director. As a Bethany alumna, I am honored, humbled, and excited for the opportunity to help lead the Bethany College Athletics Division,” Moreno said. “Bethany is a tremendous institution that holds a special place in my heart and I am thrilled to work with a quality group of coaches, students, staff, faculty, and administration. Rockar Stockar, Go Swedes!”
Moreno has been a member of the Bethany College community since she arrived as a student on campus in August of 2007. She was a two-year member of the Bethany softball team and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Moreno served as an assistant softball coach for the Swedes for a year before moving to a head coaching position at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kan. She was at Brown Mackie from August 2013 to July 2015. While at Brown Mackie, Moreno led her team to two NJCAA Region VI Tournament qualifications and a 27-26 record in 2012, the most wins in over 11 years of the program. Her team earned an average GPA of 3.0 in 2013 and 3.2 in 2012, earning NJCAA All-Academic Team honors in 2012. During this time, Moreno also recruited the most softball student-athletes in school history.
Moreno then returned to Bethany to serve as an assistant softball coach, athletics administrative assistant, and assistant sports information director. After two years, Moreno stepped into the head softball coaching position, adding the responsibilities of Assistant Athletic Director in September of 2017.
While serving as a head coach at Bethany, Moreno has maintained a 45-plus program roster. She also coached 17 All-Kansas Collegiate Athletics Conference (KCAC) selections, 27 KCAC Scholar Athletes, 14 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, and helped lead the 2016 team to a KCAC Tournament Championship Runner-Up finish. Moreno serves as the Bethany College Champion of Character liaison to the KCAC and her teams earned KCAC Team of Character honors in 2017 and 2018. Moreno has also served on Bethany College Staff Senate and the Strategic Planning Committee.
“At the end of this year, it is my hope to name Coach Moreno as the dean of athletics. This period of time will provide her with an opportunity to earn the position and to decide if full-time athletic administration is a vocation she would like to pursue,” President Jones stated.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free
service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.eduand is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Distinguished alumni bring decades of leadership, governance, and higher education experience to support Bethany College’s future
Grant Provides Critical Resources to Enhance the Student Experience and Institutional Growth
Lindsborg, Kan. – Bethany College is proud to announce the 2026 Hall of Honor award recipients, recognizing eight individuals whose achievements and service have made a lasting impact on Swede Athletics. "The Athletics Hall of Honor celebrates those who exemplify excellence, leadership, and commitment in sport,” shared Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics. The 2026 class embodies those attributes and much more. From memorable performances in five different sports, to remarkable coaching careers in nearby communities, to local business owners who support our current Swedes students and staff, this entire group has elevated our programs and department and embodied the very best of our institution. We look forward to honoring and celebrating their extraordinary achievements this October.” The annual Bethany College Hall of Honor Award Ceremony celebrates former student-athletes, coaches, and supporters whose excellence, leadership, and dedication have shaped Bethany College athletics. This year's honorees include four Hall of Honor inductees, two Coach of the Year recipients, and two Bethany Athletic Association (BAA) Award of Merit recipients. Bethany College Hall of Honor award winners include: • Sven Delin, a 2001 graduate, was a captain of the golf team that won four consecutive conference championships, leading to four national championship appearances. He won the conference tournament individually...twice! Delin was also a four-year all-conference academic athlete. • Vinny Butka, a 1982 graduate, was a three-time KCAC shot put champion, District 10 indoor shot put champion in 1981, ACCK champion in 1980 and 1982, three-time outdoor national qualifier, and ranks second in Bethany College history for shot put distance. • Tim Leaf, awarded posthumously, a 1981 graduate, was the KCAC Individual Champion in cross country in 1979 and 1980. In 1979, Leaf was the lead runner on Bethany College’s only KCAC championship team. He placed 33rd in the national cross country meet and remains the highest finishing individual in Bethany College history. In track, Leaf won the 1980 5,000-meter race and set the current school record with a time of 15:18.64. • Amy (Yonally) Wilson, a 1999 graduate, was a dual-sport athlete playing softball and volleyball. In volleyball, she was named to an all-conference volleyball team. In softball, Wilson was a four-time all-conference softball player, all-region softball award winner, and made the All-American Farm Team. Bethany College Coach of the Year award winners include: • Kent Teeter, a 1987 graduate, has had many successes over the last 39 years from his time at Hays High School and his current position at Holcomb High School. While coaching football, Teeter has won two state championships and four league titles. He has also been named the Sports in Kansas Coach of the Year twice, KFBCA Coach of the Year in 2015, and KFBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Along with coaching football, Teeter has also been successful in coaching track and field as he led his Holcomb boys' teams to three consecutive state titles (looking to make it four next year), seven league titles (currently on a four-year streak), and six top three finishes in the state track meet. He has coached over 25 different individual state titles in track and field as well. • Greg Maxwell, a 1997 graduate, coaches both volleyball and girls' basketball at Ellinwood High School. In volleyball, he has over 230 career wins and won the 2025 2A State Championship with a perfect 47-0 record. In girls' basketball, Maxwell led his team to the 2026 2A State Championship, finishing as the runner-up. These were the first ever state tournament wins for Ellinwood who were also the Central Prairie League champions. Maxwell holds a 2A state runner up finish in girls' golf as well. Bethany Athletic Association Award of Merit award winners include: • Danielle (DuMars) Greene and Spencer Greene. Danielle, a 2013 graduate, and her husband have made an immediate impact on Bethany College Athletics. They are a host family for Women’s Basketball, providing numerous meals for the team as well. The Greenes are also the owners of the Ol’ Stuga which hosts the Coaches Radio Show and is a valued partner for both Athletics and Bethany College as a whole. • Brandi Swenson, owner of the Crown & Rye, has also hosted the Coaches Radio Show while also hosting many Swedes Athletics celebrations and playoff sendoff events. In addition, Crown and Rye provided food for the 2026 All Swede Awards, the annual Athletic Department celebration for all teams and student-athletes. The Crown & Rye is a valued partner of Bethany College Athletics. All recipients will be honored during a special ceremony during Homecoming/Inauguration Weekend on Sunday, October 25. About Bethany College Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) is a higher educational institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas. Bethany College was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For more than 140 years, Bethany College has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany College, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. CONTACT: Christie Denniston, APR Vice President of Strategic Engagement 303-827-5164 Bethany College 335 East Swensson Street Lindsborg, KS 67456
