DBU Honors Nate Frieling as the 2026 Staff Member of the Year

This year's annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon honored Nate Frieling, Deputy Director of Athletics, as Dallas Baptist University's 2026 Staff Member of the Year. This honor recognizes Nate's continued dedication to the University's growth, its student-athletes, and his demonstration of what it means to be a servant leader.

The Staff Member of the Year award is presented to a staff member who exemplifies exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to DBU's mission. This year's recognition of Nate's service to the University and its students honors his contributions to the DBU community and its Athletic Department.

Starting his journey with DBU in 2003 as an assistant baseball coach, he now brings over two decades of leadership experience serving the University in collegiate athletic operations, revenue development, and strategic growth.

Over the course of his career, he has helped grow the Patriot Athletic Fund and baseball-specific Dugout Club; launched the Patriot Broadcasting Network in 2012; assisted in design, funding strategy, and execution of Horner Ballpark; directed and oversaw multiple NCAA and conference championships; planned and executed intentional trips for student-athletes through the Global Sports Mission Initiative; and played a role in DBU Baseball's rise to the national level during its transition to Division I.

Today, as the Deputy Director of Athletics, he looks back on each role the Lord has directed him through and sees how the University and its people have continued to grow while pointing others closer to Christ.

As this year's award recipient, Nate shares that he is honored to receive the recognition from a faithful leadership team and from a man he greatly admires, President Wright. Being surrounded and encouraged by the community during and after the luncheon reminded Nate that "DBU is a special place with special people."

He is grateful for the relationships he has built at DBU over the years, including those with Dr. Cook, Dr. Wright, coaches, staff, faculty, and students. "DBU has been home for so many years now," Nate reflects. "I have really enjoyed the people I get to work with on a daily basis."

Nate continues to live out DBU's emphasis on servant leadership as he puts the needs of others before his own. Each day, he is motivated by the people he serves, finding joy in celebrating each individual and the unique gifts they bring to every interaction.

After working together for over 20 years, Nate reflects on how Dan Heefner has continually provided meaningful encouragement that has remained with him throughout the years. "He is a steady friend, gifted leader, and brings a perspective to life that is impactful for me," he shares.

Looking back to his younger self stepping into his first role at DBU, Nate would advise himself to slow down. To stop moving day-to-day, focusing solely on projects, and to invest time in building deep, intentional relationships from the start.

When asked about his favorite DBU memory, he recalls an impactful event from 2011. After returning to campus from the baseball team's first-ever NCAA Super Regional, Nate remembers a line of faculty and staff members waiting to congratulate the team on this accomplishment. He specifically remembers one moment that has stayed with him as he looked out the bus window. "I saw a solitary figure on the hill waving to us," Nate recalls. "It was Dr. Cook greeting us and saying, 'well done' in a wonderfully fitting way."

This honor as DBU's Staff Member of the Year reflects Nate's ongoing impact on the University and his faithful embodiment of DBU's core values in leadership.