Coming into his fifth year as head coach of the men’s basketball program, Bob Ludwig’s teams have experienced some of the institution’s best results in that timeframe both on the court and in the classroom. Ludwig won more games in his first three seasons than any other head coach in the school’s 154-year history did during their initial three years, averaging just over 20 wins per year in those seasons. The Bobcats have also performed exceptionally well in the classroom, winning multiple NAIA Scholar Team and individual academic awards. The program has had over a 3.0 cumulative GPA three of the last four seasons.
Ludwig’s first two Bobcat teams qualified for back-to-back NAIA National Tournaments, making the Heart of America Conference Tournament final in both those years. In 2017-2018, the team lost to eventual National Champion Graceland in that game, but advanced to the NAIA Sweet Sixteen after upsetting the #1 seed Master’s University. The following year’s 2018-2019 squad would go on to beat a Benedictine College team on the road in the conference tournament final that was previously undefeated in conference play. In the 2020 season, the team would finish 3
rd in the standings after a loss to Clarke in the Heart of America semifinal round. The Bobcats look to bounce back this year after COVID-19 heavily impacted player availability during the 2020-2021 season.
Ludwig grew up in the Omaha area, graduating high school at Bellevue East. After that, he was a three-year letter winner at Nebraska Wesleyan on the men’s basketball team, graduating in 2006. After spending one year at his alma mater under head coach Cam Schucknecht, Ludwig’s first full-time assistant position would be in his hometown at Bellevue (Neb.) University. In his three years at Bellevue, the program won two Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season titles and two conference tournament championships. Ludwig also held top assistant positions at Peru State, Central Wyoming, and Midland University. In the 2013-2014 season, the Midland University team was the NAIA Division II National Championship game runner-up. The following year, they would win the 2014-15 GPAC Tournament Championship, beating Morningside by a score of 89-67 on the road. All in all, Ludwig has been to 9 National Tournaments in 14 years as a college coach and has coached 14 NAIA All-Americans.
The student-athletes that Ludwig has been fortunate enough to coach have won numerous academic awards such as: Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete, NABC Academic Honors Court, CoSIDA / Capitol One All-American Academic First-Team, and the NJCAA Superior Academic Achievement Award. At Midland University and Peru State combined, seven teams have earned NAIA Scholar Team Award status.
Ludwig resides in Nebraska City with his wife, Catherine.
LUDWIG COLLEGE COACHING TIMELINE
| Team |
Years |
Title |
Record |
Post-Season |
| Nebraska Wesleyan |
07-08 |
Assistant Coach |
14-13 |
|
| Bellevue University |
08-09 |
Assistant Coach |
24-9 |
NAIA II Sweet sixteen |
|
09-10 |
Assistant Coach |
28-8 |
MCAC regular season and tournament titles/NAIA II Final Four |
|
10-11 |
Assistant Coach |
28-6 |
MCAC regular season and tournament titles/NAIA II Elite Eight |
| Midland University |
11-12 |
Assistant Coach |
19-12 |
|
|
12-13 |
Assistant Coach |
21-13 |
NAIA II Elite Eight |
|
13-14 |
Assistant Coach |
30-6 |
NAIA II Runner-Up |
|
14-15 |
Assistant Coach |
26-8 |
GPAC regular season title/NAIA II 1st Round |
| Peru State College |
15-16 |
Assistant Coach |
22-11 |
NAIA I 1st Round |
| Central Wyoming College |
16-17 |
Assistant Coach |
21-9 |
|
| Peru State College |
17-18 |
Head Coach |
21-15 |
NAIA I 2nd Round |
|
18-19 |
Head Coach |
23-11 |
NAIA I 1st Round |
|
19-20 |
Head Coach |
17-15 |
|
|
20-21 |
Head Coach |
9-15 |
|
