Bio

Derek Bakken was named as one of the full-time assistant coaches for the program in the summer of 2022 after joining the coaching staff in the spring of 2022. He brings a wealth of football knowledge to Concordia as a head coach and assistant coach, in both the college and high school levels.

Before coming to Concordia, Bakken was in charge of the defensive line at NCAA Division II Minn.-Crookston. 

Bakken was on the football staff at Mayville State University for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He started as the defensive line coach in 2017, and was named the Assistant Head Coach for the 2018 season. 

Bakken's path in football included serving as the Co-Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the NSFL Fargo Invaders (Semi Pro) in 2016 and then as the General Manager and Defensive Coordinator of the Invaders when they transitioned into the NEFL. In 2016, Bakken helped the Invaders win the NSFL League Championship, and he was named the NSFL Coach of the Year. In 2017, he was a part of the Invaders' team that captured a share of the Western Division regular season championship and a spot in the league playoffs.

Bakken started his coaching career in 1997 at Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo. He became the head coach at Oak Grove in 2011 and continued in that role through the 2015 season.   

Bakken, and his wife Janet live in Halstad, Minn. They have four children; Keegan, Kiana, Kyla and Kaleb.