HEAD COACH PABLO MORALES
Pablo
Morales
Head Coach
Fifth Season
Pablo Morales is entering his fifth season as Nebraska's head coach
and has made remarkable strides in his efforts to return the Huskers
to national prominence.
The Huskers met Morales' expectations in 2005, and moved up the
ladder to a third-place finish at the Big 12 Championships. Last year's
squad also made its way to the NU record books under Morales,
becoming the first team to begin the season with eight straight wins
in dual competition, and finishing the year 8-1 after a narrow loss to
Missouri in the final meet. Only four other teams in school history
finished the year with one loss or less, and Nebraska's 2004-05 success
came just three years after a winless season.
A 1987 graduate of Stanford University, Morales was perhaps the
greatest male swimmer in U.S. history, winning an NCAA-record 11
individual titles. He also helped lead the Cardinal to three consecutive
NCAA titles and four Pac-10 titles, while twice earning Pac-10 Swimmerof-the-Year honors and garnering six Pac-10 titles himself.
Morales remains the all-time leading scorer at the NCAA
Championships, amassing 235 points. Morales was also the recipient
of the 1987 Al Masters Award, which is Stanford's highest award for
athletic performance, leadership and academic performance. He was
the first male swimmer to win the award, and remains one of two to
have accomplished that feat. Morales holds the school record in the
200-yard butterfly (1:42.60) and held the school record in the 100-yard
fly (46.25) until it was broken in 1998 by Sabir Muhammad (46.18).
While at Stanford, Morales was awarded the J.E. Sterling Award,
which is presented to a student-athlete based on scholarship, leadership
and community service. In addition, he served as the director of the
Stanford Volunteers for Youth Program. Morales also found time to
become a mainstay on the campus newspaper as the beat writer for
the women's basketball team.
An academic All-America selection in 1987, Morales earned a law
degree from Cornell in June of 1994, despite taking two years off from
law school to train and compete at the Olympics.
In addition to winning two gold medals, Morales was a two-time
silver medalist at the Olympic Games. He competed in the 1984 and
1992 Games, serving as men's captain for the 1992 team. Following
the 1992 Games, in which he returned to the pool after a three-year
layoff to capture a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly, Morales was
named the U.S. Olympic Committee's Sportsman of the Year. He held
Morales' Coaching Philosophy
"My job is to instill confidence in a swimmer and teach her to expect
a higher level of performance from herself. I want each swimmer to
open her mind to what is possible. I want her to strive to exceed what
she has done in the past each and every day. I want her to expect
that more is possible."
12
the U.S. Open and NCAA record in the 100-yard fly with a time of
46.26, which stood for 13 years before being broken at the 1999 NCAA
Championships.
Morales' legend lives on in the Olympic Games today, as the
Nebraska coach served on the bid committee for the 2008 U.S. Olympic
swimming trials that were recently selected to take place in Omaha.
Morales had the chance to see the selection process and serve a role in
the decision that will give Nebraska its first Olympic event in history.
"For Omaha to get the bid is outstanding," Morales said. "It is the
preeminent swimming event for United States Swimming and it will be
happening right here. This is an amazing showcase not only for the
city of Omaha, but also for swimming in Nebraska and the Midwest."
Among Morales' greatest accomplishments as a swimmer is holding
the world record in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 52.84 from
1986 until 1995.
Before coming to Nebraska, Morales served as the head women's
swimming coach at San Jose State University. He held the reins as
head coach from 1998 until being named coach at Nebraska in July of
2001. Morales recorded a 16-17 dual record in his three seasons as
the head coach for the Spartans, and was named the 2000 Western
Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts.
While at San Jose State, Morales rebuilt a program and took the
Spartans to the NCAA Championships after a 14-year absence.
During his tenure at SJSU, Morales produced six academic All-WAC
swimmers, including three-time selection Veronica Gunn. At the 2001
WAC Championships, five Spartans set school records under Morales'
supervision, and three met NCAA qualification times. Seven others
swam times that placed among the top three in school history.
Before his stint at SJSU, Morales served as an assistant coach at
his alma mater, Stanford, during the 1997-98 season, helping lead
the squad to the NCAA team title. Morales also served as a graduate
assistant at Cornell while pursuing his law degree. While at Cornell,
Morales prepared and
coached
daily
workouts
for
swimmers
and
assisted
in
recruiting.
Morales
has
assisted in coaching
with the San Jose
Aquatics club group,
as well as serving as
head coach of the
Stanford Masters
Swim Team.
For Morales, the
opportunity to coach
at Nebraska was a
welcome challenge.
"As a coach,
taking over the
responsibilities
at
Nebraska
represents
a
great
opportunity
to
Pablo Morales was featured in a January issue of
take a program with
the Lincoln Journal Star.
MORALES ENTERS FIFTH YEAR AT NEBRASKA
The Morales File
Coaching Experience:
� Head Coach, Stanford Masters Swim Program, 1988-89
� Graduate Assistant, Cornell University, 1989-91
� Assistant Coach, San Jose Aquatics, 1995-96
� Graduate Assistant, Stanford University, 1997-98
� Head Coach, San Jose State University, 1998-2001
� Associate Head Coach, San Jose Aquatics, 2000-01
� Head Coach, University of Nebraska, July 2001-Present
Morales' one-on-one ability to work with student-athletes.
"If there is a female swimmer out there that wants to be the best in
the world," Kenny said, "I'd send her to swim for Pablo."
Morales' experience as both an NCAA and international swimmer
as well as a club and collegiate coach can only help him in coaching
and recruiting.
"In my experiences, I have been fortunate to have had a long career
as a competitor. I was able to train with coaches who I think are some
of the best in the world," Morales said. "I have learned from them, and
I have learned from myself. I believe that all of my experiences have
prepared me for coaching. I have a good feel for the contours of teams
that are successful. I know how they practice, train and compete."
In July of 2002, Morales named Doug Humphrey as his assistant.
"Doug has a great deal of experience at Nebraska," Morales said.
"He's spent a lot of time here. He knows the University and the area,
and that is obviously a positive from a recruiting standpoint. I think that
he is an excellent coach. He knows how to succeed, and he knows
how to win."
Morales named former Olympian Natalya Chikina as the head diving
coach in June of 2005.
“She brings outstanding technical expertise combined with a
tremendous coaching demeanor that will undoubtedly yield fabulous
results at the Division I level,” Morales said. “She is the perfect fit to
build on the success of her predecessors here at Nebraska and be part
of our development into a championship-level program.”
A gifted and noted public speaker and lecturer, Morales was a
contributing author to The Swim Coaching Bible, published in 2001.
Pablo is the son of Pedro and the late Blanca Morales, who came
to the United States from Cuba in 1956. Morales and his wife, Viviana,
have three boys, Sam (7), Benjamin (4) and Eli (2).
Morales was born in Chicago and grew up in Santa Clara Calif., and
enjoys golfing in his spare time.
success and use the resources that only Nebraska can offer-the support
from the athletic department, the University, the Lincoln area and the
state to take the program to a higher level," Morales said after he was
hired. "Our goal is to take this program to the elite national level."
A powerful motivator, Morales hopes to keep his swimmers on the
top of their games.
"I want our swimmers to achieve their goals of faster times and lifetime
bests," Morales said. "I want them to have the best season that they
have ever had, and I also want us to establish a team atmosphere and
build an excitement toward Husker swimming and diving."
Morales enjoys competing in the Big 12, one of the premier swimming
and diving conferences in the country.
"Competing in the Big 12 is a great opportunity to be a part of a strong
conference," Morales said. "To say that we are in the Big 12, and that
we will compete against some of the best swimmers and teams in the
country is great. It helps to bring in recruits when they can look and
see you will compete against the nation's best teams."
Former Stanford Head Coach Skip Kenny, who coached Morales at
Stanford and also with Team USA, speaks highly of his former pupil.
"He's one of the most honest people that you will meet," Kenny said.
"You will always get the truth out of him. He's very dedicated to the sport
of swimming and to his athletes."
Kenny also recognizes Morales'
charisma.
"As soon as the swimmers
spend a few days or weeks with
him," Kenny said, "they will see
how much he cares about them
and the sport of swimming."
Morales also gets a vote of
confidence that he will be able to
turn Nebraska into a national title
contender.
"He brings a high level of
experience to build up the team,"
Kenny said. "He's been there and
done that as far as swimming is
concerned. I honestly believe that
he is a better coach than he was
a swimmer, and that is saying a
lot since he was one of the best
swimmers in the world. He has
done things with kids that I thought
I would never see."
Kenny has confidence in The Morales Family (Left to Right): Eli (2), Viviana, Benjamin (4), Pablo and Sam (7)
13
Q&A WITH PABLO MORALES
Nebraska head coach Pablo Morales is entering his fifth year at
the helm of the swimming and diving program. The former Olympian
looks to continue to build at Nebraska as the Huskers have drastically
improved during his first four seasons.
Q: What is special about Nebraska?
PM: I think there are a lot of things that are special about Nebraska.
I think Nebraska provides a wholely unique environment in terms of
athletics and academics. From supporting its student-athletes at every
level and every aspect of its collegiate existence to academic support
to nutritionists, strength training, athletic training and medicine. I think
every student-athlete has the opportunity to accomplish their highest
ambitions. Nebraska provides a unique environment in terms of support,
not only within the program and university, but from the entire state
itself. It’s a unique environment and it is one that we definitely want to
show recruits when they come here, that they are just not a number.
They are a vital component to our program and our whole athletic
department. And the entire state of Nebraska is behind them.
Q: What are the goals for your swimmers in and out of the pool?
PM: Our expectation is that they are not only going to improve
obviously in the swimming pool and diving well, but that they are
going to improve significantly regardless of the background they have
had or the experience they have had previously. We feel like we can
take whatever a swimmer or diver has done in the past, and take
them to a higher level because of the resources that are available at
Nebraska. We expect our individuals to take advantage of everything
that is available to them so they can grow as individuals and acquire
outstanding life skills that will benefit them throughout their lives after
college, and develop a bond with their teammates and student-athletes
from other sports. I expect them to have a great deal of pride in the
University of Nebraska and be proud of the fact that they are Huskers,
both in and out of the water.
Q: What are some of the team goals for this season?
PM: I think to repeat as the top team in the Big 12 North is very
much on a part of our minds. We were able to climb that hill last year
and certainly we want to accomplish at least that much this year. The
next step represents probably the biggest step in our program, which
is going after the two Texas schools. Our objective is not only to build
on the success that we achieved last year, but to reduce the gap
between ourselves and Texas and Texas A&M, the two schools that
have essentially dominated our conference in recent years. We know
that is going to be a great challenge for us to be the top team in the Big
12 North because Missouri, Kansas and Iowa State are all going to gear
up and try to get to our spot. We have to be ready for that challenge,
but also at the same point, we have to look ahead. We have to look
toward meeting the Texas schools face-to-face and reducing the gap
at the conference level.
Q: Do you feel Nebraska is in position to continue improvement?
PM: Absolutely. We haven’t had a year yet where we have lost a
real big class in terms of numbers. A couple years ago we had a really
young team and we have benefited from increased experience and we
are going to do so this year. We have a fairly large senior class that
has one more year to finish on a real high note. Our junior class has
had two great years behind them and they are half way through. They
have the opportunity to get to a higher level also. Our sophomore class
went through a transitional period last season and I think with a year
behind them are going to be able to contribute in a real meaningful way
and reach a higher level. With our freshmen, they are a small class but
have already shown that they are going to contribute really well, not
only in a dual meet season but also in the conference meet.
14
Head Coach Pablo Morales encourages his team during a meet.
Q: Are you looking toward your large senior class for a lot of
leadership this season?
PM: Definitely. That is something that when we started the rebuilding
process four years ago we didn’t have. Certainly, it is a tough road
if you don’t have that leadership. They are individuals who not only
have leadership abilities but experience as well. Our senior class has
a great deal of experience and we are certainly going to call on them
to really provide great examples and leadership, both verbal and in
action. This is what you hope for. This is what our program has been
gearing toward the last four years-getting a mix of classes where the
underclassmen can really look up and benefit from the experience of
our seniors.
Q: How do you feel about competing in the Big 12?
PM: It is a wonderful experience to compete in a conference with
great programs. It makes for a really exciting conference meet, but
at the same time you know that if you are competitive against these
teams in your conference, you are going to be automatically ranked
high nationally. You don’t have to look beyond your conference to know
where you stand on a national level because you have so many of the
best teams in your conference. That makes it really exciting. Any time
you go against the teams that have the talent like the Big 12 has and
you do well, that is a very great accomplishment.
NEBRASKA COACHING STAFF
Natalya
Chikina
Diving Coach
First Season
Former Olympian Natalya Chikina enters her first season as
Nebraska's head diving coach, following a successful diving career
at the University of Southern California and two summer Olympic
games.
"We are ecstatic to bring someone of Natalya's caliber to head our
diving program," Head Coach Pablo Morales said. "During our long
search, it was a unanimous sentiment from all corners of the diving
community that she would be an outstanding hire."
Chikina will look to utilize her experience in the sport of diving and
continue to lead a talented Husker diving squad to the top of the
conference, and qualify competitors for the NCAA Championships.
"As a coach, my job is to recognize the highest potential of each
diver," Chikina said. "I want to make them believe in themselves by
creating a positive and goal-setting environment. With hard work,
discipline and encouragement I want to bring every one of them to
their highest level of performance."
Chikina, a native of Kazakhstan, competed at the Atlanta (1996) and
Sydney (2000) Summer Olympic games. Chikina finished 15th at the
Atlanta Games, before capturing a ninth-place finish on the 10-meter
Platform in Sydney. Between competitions, Chikina placed fourth at the
1998 NCAA Championships for the University of Southern California,
where she earned NCAA All-America honors in 1997 and 1998. She
was also the Pac-10 champion on the three-meter springboard in 1997
and 1998.
Chikina ompeted at the Goodwill Games (1994), the World
Championships (1994-96) and the FINA Grand Prix (2000), placing
as high as third in both the World Championships and FINA Grand
Prix.
Following her diving career as an athlete, Chikina immediately began
her quest to become a head diving coach. She was the assistant
coach of the Trojan Diving Club from 1998 to 2001, coaching two
Junior Olympic national champions, and the assistant diving coach
at her alma mater, USC in 1998-99, helping coach future Olympians
Troy Dumais and Dorte Linder.
Since 2001, Chikina served as the assistant head coach at the
U.S. Diving Regional Training Center where she took on many
responsibilities. Primarily, she coached a two-time Oklahoma state high
school champion, two Junior Olympic National team members and four
Junior Olympic National qualifiers. Among her other responsibilities,
Chikina scouted and recruited, judged competitions up to the national
level and scheduled team trips, camps and programs. During this time,
Chikina also coached at the 2003 US Diving National Training Camp,
instructing junior national-level athletes in the spotting belt, trampoline
and dryboard.
Chikina earned her bachelor's degree in social science and
communications from USC in 1999, after completing her physical
education and coaching degree from the Kazakb Institute of Physical
Education in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 1996.
Natalya and her husband, Kris, moved to Lincoln this summer. Kris
serves as a volunteer assistant for the Husker diving team.
Doug
Humphrey
Assistant Coach
Sixth Season
Former Nebraska swimmer Doug Humphrey enters his 15th season
associated with the Husker swimming team and his sixth season as
assistant coach. Before taking over as assistant coach, Humphrey served
as an undergraduate coach from 1995 to 1997, as an administrative
assistant from 1997 to 2000 and as interim assistant coach in 2001.
The Omaha native has been Pablo Morales' full-time assistant since
2001-02, and has played a major role in turning the program around over
the last four years.
Along with assisting Morales with day-to-day coaching, Humphrey
coordinates the dry-land training for the Huskers, as well as serving as meet
director during all home contests. He also maintains the team database
and results, as well as coordinates team travel and scheduling.
A 1991 graduate of Omaha Westside, Humphrey was voted Swimmer
of the Meet at the 1991 spring Junior National Championships, capturing
two gold and two silver medals.
Humphrey attended Omaha Westside High School and is the Nebraska
state high school
record holder in the
500-yard freestyle.
Humphrey
was
coached by Doug
Krecklow.
Humphrey
lettered at Nebraska
from 1992 to 1995.
While a Husker,
Humphrey captured
two Big Eight
individual titles in
Former Nebraska swimmer Doug Humphrey is in his 1992, winning the
200 freestyle (1:
15th season with the Nebraska swimming team.
39.14) and 500-yard
freestyle (4:27.44) events. With the help of Humphrey's two individual titles,
the Huskers captured the Big Eight title in 1992.
Humphrey also helped the Huskers to back-to-back Big Eight titles in
1993 and 1994. In 1992 he anchored the 800-yard freestyle relay team
that set a then-Big Eight record and Devaney Center record of 6:36.59.
Humphrey remains fourth on the Huskers' all-time list in the 500-yard
free with a time of 4:27.44.
Humphrey holds two bachelor's degrees in education that he earned
in 1997, and earned his master's degree in instructional technology
in 1999. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. in higher education
administration.
Humphrey also served as a coach with Nebraska Aquatics, a club
swimming program in Lincoln, from 1996 until 2002. While at the helm of
Nebraska Aquatics, Humphrey coached swimmers in various age groups
to all levels of success, sending many swimmers to regional and national
competitions.
Humphrey knows that as a coach, his responsibility is to help his
swimmers perform to the best of their abilities.
"My ambition is for each and every student-athlete to reach their
maximum potential," Humphrey said. "We are here to be the best we can
be, as individuals and as a team. This always keeps us in the right direction,
moving toward the top."
Humphrey and his wife, Dani, were married in July of 2004.
15
SWIMMING AND DIVING SUPPORT STAFF
Staci
Reynolds
Swimming and Diving
Trainer
Swimming and Diving
Public Address Announcer
Staci Reynolds is in her first year as an assistant athletic trainer and
head swimming and diving and soccer trainer at Nebraska.
Reynolds came to Lincoln in August after spending two years at BYU
working with the women's basketball, soccer, tennis and swimming
and divin programs.
A native of Salt Lake City, Staci received her master's degree from
BYU in athletic training.
Adam Froemming is in his seventh year as the public address
announcer for Nebraska swimming and diving.
Previously, Froemming was employed with the Nebraska Media
Relations office and served as the swimming and diving contact from
1999 to 2003.
The Omaha native graduated from Nebraska in December 2003 with
a degree in broadcast journalism.
Dianne
Streeks
Ragean
Hill
Swimming and Diving
Secretary
Dianne Streeks has been employed by the Nebraska Athletic
Department since 1997 and has served as secretary for men's and
women's gymnastics and women's swimming and diving. A Nebraska
native, Streeks worked in the Nebraska Legislature before joining the
Husker staff.
Streeks and her husband, Gary, have three children, Bryon, Brent
and Stephanie, three grandchildren and two step grandchildren.
Brandon
Gries
Swimming and Diving
Media Relations Contact
Brandon Gries is in his second year as the media relations contact for
the Nebraska swimming and diving team. Gries is a student assistant
for the Nebraska Media Relations office, and also serves as the cross
country contact.
A native of Paxton, Neb., Gries is a sophomore news-editorial major
at Nebraska.
Kris
Hoffman
Diving
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Kris Hoffman will volunteer his time an assistant for the Husker diving
program this season.
The Oklahoma City, Okla., native has spent the past four years
coaching at the U.S. Regional training center in Oklahoma City.
Hoffman is the husband of Natalya Chikina, the Huskers' head
diving coach.
16
Adam
Froemming
Swimming and Diving
Academic Counselor
Ragean Hill is an academic counselor and coordinator of multicultural
programs and will oversee the swimming and diving team for the
second year.
Hill came to Lincoln after spending one year as a graduate assistant
at Kansas State University.
A native of Redlands, Calif., Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in
life science from Kansas State in 2002 and her master’s degree from
Kansas State in 2004.
Barrett
Brandon
Swimming and Diving
Graduate Assistant
Barrett Brandon was a 2000-01 letterwinner on the Nebraska men's
swimming and diving team, and is now a graduate assistant for the
women's team.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Brandon graduated from Nebraska
in May of 2005. He is currently working toward his MBA, while also
training as a professional triathlete.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STEVE PEDERSON
Steve
Pederson
Athletic Director
Tradition, Teamwork, Integrity. These are the
core values of the Husker Nation, and also the
principles of champions.
After being named his alma mater's 12th
athletic director on Dec. 20, 2002, Steve
Pederson quickly established these ideals as the
driving force that would guide Nebraska back to
the pinnacle of collegiate athletics.
To reach that objective, Pederson's first priority was improving Nebraska's
facilities to attract the best student-athletes in the country. Plans were quickly
put in place for what will become one of the premier athletic complexes and
indoor fieldhouses in the nation.
The benefits of the new facilities could be extraordinary considering the
Huskers’ recent success. Leading the way in 2004-05 was the Nebraska
baseball team, which grabbed national respect by reaching the 2005 College
World Series and winning a school-record 57 games. It was the third time in
five years NU played on the sport's grandest stage, as the Huskers ended the
greatest season in program history among the final six teams battling for a spot
in the championship series.
Nebraska squads led the Big 12 with eight regular-season or tournament
titles in 2004-05, including a conference-best six regular-season championships.
It was the most titles by the Huskers since the 2000-01 campaign. Nebraska
also won four Big 12 coach-of-the-year and two player-of-the-year honors while
adding five freshman- or newcomer-of-the-year accolades.
Last year, 13 of Nebraska's 23 varsity sports were ranked among the top 25
in their final national polls or at the NCAA Championships, led by the women's
bowling team which earned the national title for the second consecutive season.
It is the only team to win the championship since the sport was recognized by
the NCAA. Overall, Nebraska has won 22 team national titles to rank among
the top collegiate programs in the country.
In the classroom, five Huskers earned CoSIDA Academic All-America
honors, raising Nebraska's NCAA-leading total to 222, while Huskers
earned 531 honors the last two semesters by being selected to the Big 12
Commissioner's Honor Roll with a 3.0 or better GPA. A conference-leading
139 Husker student-athletes claimed academic All-Big 12 honors and 108
earned their degree last year.
Pederson is an award-winning athletic director with experience at four
prominent Division I schools. A tireless worker with a contagious winning
attitude, Pederson is implementing his vision for the future of Nebraska,
which includes three vital components to success: a staff that will outwork the
competition; enhancing facilities in order to attract the nation’s best studentathletes; and a unified approach to enable student-athletes to succeed in all
facets of life.
Nebraska's championship tradition has been built by outstanding studentathletes and coaches over the years, but Pederson believes the foundation of
Nebraska's success is its fans – not only the 1.7 million people who call the
state home, but also fans who support NU from around the nation.
Since December 2002, Pederson has worked hard to integrate Husker
fans into the NU athletic program. He declared the 2003-04 season the “Year
of the Fan” and conceptualized the first Husker Nation Tour, where football
coaches, players and staff blanketed the state. The event was an instant
success, and has reached more than 35,000 fans across the state over the
past three years.
In November of 2003, Pederson announced the Husker Nation
Championship Drive, a $50 million fund-raising project to support the creation
of the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex. The state-of-the-art
building will house renovated athletic medicine, weight room and locker room
facilities along with football and administrative offices. The comprehensive
project also includes a new indoor facility and practice fields that will benefit
each of Nebraska’s 23 programs, and will provide an additional 6,000-plus
seats for Memorial Stadium, pushing capacity to 80,000 when construction is
completed in 2006.
Pederson’s efforts have the interests of the student-athletes in mind.
He has implemented support programs to aid student-athlete’s academic,
athletic, personal and professional development. In order to assist studentathletes with their postgraduation pursuits, he worked with Assistant Athletic
Director for Student Life Keith Zimmer to enhance Nebraska's nationally
recognized Life Skills program. They created the Life Skills Award for the team
that demonstrated the strongest commitment to all phases of the life skills
program, including outreach, education and leadership.
A firm believer in the philosophy that hard work pays off, Pederson was given
his first chance at leading a Division I program when he was hired as athletic
director at Pittsburgh in 1996. A young and relatively unknown commodity at the
time, Pederson returned the Panthers to the national spotlight in just six years
and was named the recipient of the 2002 General Robert R. Neyland Athletic
Director Award, annually presented by the All-American Football Foundation
for outstanding administrative achievement.
Pederson helped construct several new facilities at Pittsburgh, including
shaping the vision of the Petersen Events Center, a convocation center that
provided Pittsburgh with one of the finest college basketball arenas in the
country. Behind Pederson’s efforts, the Panther football team was blessed
with the Duratz Athletic Complex and the UPMC Sports Performance Complex,
a practice venue that opened in 2000. In 2001, the Panthers debuted Heinz
Field, a new facility the football team shares with the Steelers. Pederson also
oversaw major upgrades to several Olympic sport facilities.
During his tenure at Pittsburgh, Pederson hired six coaches who combined to
earn Big East Coach-of-the-Year honors in football, men’s basketball, women's
basketball, volleyball, baseball and track and field. Under Pederson's head
coaching hires, the football team made three straight bowl appearances,
including two victories, while the men’s basketball team went on to gain backto-back Sweet 16 berths.
In his first stint at Nebraska, Pederson helped negotiate the original football
contract with adidas in 1995
and oversaw the recent
completion of a new contract
that will supply all Husker
teams with adidas apparel
through 2010.
If it seems that Pederson
has a passion for the Huskers,
he does. In fact, although
Pederson lived outside the
state for 13 years while gaining
valuable experience at three
major Division I institutions,
Pederson's love of Nebraska
has never wavered.
Pederson and his wife, Tami,
both earned degrees from the
University of Nebraska. Steve
earned his bachelor’s degree
from Nebraska in business
administration in 1980 and
began his career at Nebraska,
first as a sports information The Pederson family (clockwise from top left):
assistant (1980-81) and Steve, Mark, Tami, Kari and Kristin
then as football recruiting
coordinator (1982 to 1986). He returned as the associate athletic director for
football operations from 1994 to 1996.
As the Husker associate athletic director for football, Pederson oversaw the
refurbishment of the football administrative offices, and the construction of a
new halftime meeting room, postgame interview room and players and coaches
locker rooms. He reorganized the program’s administrative wing and played a
definitive role in Nebraska’s three national championships in the 1990s (1994,
1995 and 1997) under Head Coach Tom Osborne.
Pederson left the state of Nebraska in 1988 to serve as Ohio State’s recruiting
coordinator until 1991, then moved on to the University of Tennessee to devote
three years as the athletic administrator for football from 1991 to 1994. In
his three seasons at Tennessee, the Volunteers’ recruiting classes were
regarded among the nation’s top three nationally by several publications.
He was promoted from recruiting coordinator to assistant athletic director for
recruiting in 1992, and then was elevated to associate athletic director for
football operations in 1993.
A native of North Platte, Neb., Pederson has experience in the non-athletic
business sector, spending one year as Ak-Sar-Ben’s Public Relations Director
(1981-82), and two years in private business in Nebraska (1986 to 1988), before
returning to college football in 1988 at Ohio State.
Pederson, who was born Oct. 24, 1957, and his wife Tami Osborne Pederson
have three children: Mark (22), Kari (19) and Kristin (16).
17
ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION
Bob
Burton
Senior Associate
Athletic Director
Bob Burton enters his fourth year as
senior associate athletic director and
seventh year at Nebraska. He spent three
years as associate A.D. for compliance/
sports administration before being named
to his current position in 2001.
Burton is responsible for the administration of 18 of Nebraska’s 23
varsity sports, including the swimming program. He is also responsible
for ensuring that operating principles for the conduct of the NU Athletic
Department are in compliance with NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules
and regulations. While Burton continues to oversee Nebraska’s NCAA
and Big 12 compliance programs, he also helps set policy, develops
short-and long-term goals and objectives, and assists in creating
strategic plans for the athletic department.
Burton provides direct administrative supervision to men's and
women's golf, soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's
gymnastics, men's and women's track and field and cross country,
wrestling, softball, women's swimming and diving, bowling and rifle. He
also oversees the operation of Haymarket Park, game management,
security and equipment issues.
Marc
Boehm
Executive Associate
Athletic Director
Marc Boehm (pronounced BAME)
was hired in May of 2003 to serve as
Nebraska's Executive Associate Athletic
Director. Boehm is the top assistant to the
athletic director and fulfills the director's
responsibilities in his absence.
Boehm has administrative oversight of the Husker men’s and
women’s basketball programs and oversees the efforts of the
development, athletic medicine and ticket offices. He also provides
guidance to HuskerVision and NU's Internet presence, Huskers.com,
and assists the athletic director on special projects, including television
and radio contracts.
As primary administrator for the basketball programs, Boehm has
worked tirelessly to create a fan-friendly atmosphere at the Bob
Devaney Sports Center. From adding court-side seats to developing
affordable season-ticket packages, he has been instrumental in making
the Devaney Center one of the best home-court atmospheres in the
Big 12 Conference.
Both teams have seen growing numbers at the turnstiles under
Boehm, as the teams have combined for three postseason appearances
in the past two seasons. The women's team advanced to the third
round of the WNIT in 2005, just one year after the men's team won
two postseason games to reach the third round of the NIT.
Boehm's efforts to enhance NU's gameday atmosphere were not
restricted basketball. He was instrumental in conceptualizing and
developing the Husker Nation Pavilion, which quickly became the
premier pregame event around home football games. The area, which is
free to the public, includes a video board, interactive games, autograph
sessions with current and former athletes, professional music groups
and vendors. It also serves as the location for the Pinnacle Sports
Network pregame show, giving fans a family-friendly venue.
18
Burton filled a similar position at Oklahoma State as the assistant
athletic director for sports administration and compliance from 1993
to 1997.
Burton came to Nebraska from Texas Tech, where he served as an
associate athletic director for compliance for one year. While at Texas
Tech, Burton helped complete the NCAA investigation into the Red
Raider athletic department and analyzed the entire compliance system
at the institution. He also helped identify and implement financial aid
and eligibility systems, including changes in personnel and restructuring
of the compliance department.
Burton, who was a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer
Committee for three years and is currently a member of the NCAA
Division I Bowling Committee, served as a legislative administrator for
the NCAA from 1989 to 1993. He was involved in the development
of legislation, interpretation of regulations and reviewed legal issues
related to the application of the association’s regulations. He has
served on the National Association of Athletic Compliance Coordinators
Executive Committee and the subcommittee of Big 12 Directors of
Compliance.
He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Nebraska in 1985
and his juris doctorate from the University of Nebraska School of Law
in 1989.
Burton is a native of Falls City, Neb., and graduated from Falls City
High School in 1981. He and his wife, Krista, originally from Omaha,
have a 9-year-old daughter, Elly, a 5-year-old son, Robert Falk, and a
2-year-old son, McClain John.
Boehm also took the lead role in obtaining First National Bank as
a premier sponsor for the Nebraska Athletic Department for nearly
$3 million over a three-year period. First National Bank joined
ALLTEL, Pepsi and adidas as premier corporate sponsors for Husker
athletics.
The 43-year old Boehm held the same position under Steve Pederson
at Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2003. With the Panthers, Boehm assisted in
the rise of the basketball program with the men's team posting backto-back Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Boehm also played a central role in the development of the Panthers’
new athletic facilities. He was a principal planner for the football team’s
move into the UPMC Sports Performance Complex and Heinz Field,
and played a key role in various aspects of the Petersen Events Center,
the university’s new basketball arena.
Boehm served as interim athletic director at Pittsburgh for nearly five
months before coming to Nebraska. During that time, he hired new
men's (Jamie Dixon) and women's basketball (Agnus Berenato) and
soccer (Sue-Moy Chin) head coaches for the Panther program. Under
Dixon's direction, the Panthers won a school-record 31 games in his
first season and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third consecutive
season.
Boehm spent five years as associate executive director of the Tostitos
Fiesta Bowl, where he was instrumental in building community and
marketing programs. He helped pioneer the Fiesta Bowl’s move into
what eventually evolved into the Bowl Championship Series and worked
with the collegiate community in the operation of the game and its 40
other community events. In addition, Boehm directed and managed a
125-member fund-raising committee of Arizona business leaders that
was responsible for generating more than $4.5 million in cash and
in-kind partnerships.
Before joining the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl staff, Boehm spent four years
as associate executive director and public relations director of the Sun
Bowl from 1987 to 1991. He went to the Sun Bowl after one year as a
sports information intern at the University of Florida.
Born in Grand Island, Boehm earned his bachelor's degree in
communications from Kansas State University in 1984 and added
a master's degree in sports management from St. Thomas (Fla.)
University in 1985. Boehm and his wife, the former Janelle Broderick of
Minot, N.D., have three boys, Broderick, Christian and Lukas John.
Athletic Administration/Support Staff
Rhonda
Revelle
Associate Athletic Director
Senior Woman Administator
Head Softball Coach
One of the most highly respected softball
coaches in the nation, Rhonda Revelle begins
her first year as Nebraska's senior woman
administrator on Jan. 1, 2006. Revelle, who will
continue in her role as the head softball coach for the perennial national power
Husker softball program, replaces Dr. Barbara Hibner in the position Hibner
held for 28 years.
In her new role as senior woman administrator, Revelle will represent the
Nebraska athletic department on the national level, while attending senior
administrative meetings within the athletic department.
Along with her role as Nebraska's senior woman administrator, Revelle is
entering her 14th season as the Huskers' softball coach. In 2005, Revelle
became the first female coach in Nebraska history to record 500 victories.
The Husker softball team has won at least 35 games in each of the past eight
years and is one of only eight teams to advance to each of the last 10 NCAA
Tournaments. Revelle has also guided the Huskers to a league-best six Big
12 Conference titles, including a sweep of the 2004 Big 12 regular-season and
tournament crowns. She also led the Huskers to Big 12 Tournament titles in 1998
and 2000, along with regular-season league crowns in 1998 and 2001.
Revelle led Nebraska to the 2002 NCAA Women's College World Series while
earning 2002 NFCA Midwest Regional Coach-of-the-Year honors.
A two-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year (1998, 2001), Revelle
demonstrated her administrative expertise on the national level by serving as
the President of the National Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (NFCA)
from 1999 to 2002. She also served as the second vice-president of the NFCA
from 1995 through 1998, after serving on the NFCA All-American Committee
(1989-92, 1993-94).
Along with her softball coaching success, Revelle has also demonstrated
her commitment to the Lincoln community. In 2003, Revelle was named the
Downtown YMCA Co-Volunteer of the Year after serving as the co-chair of the
2003 YMCA Cycle-a-Thon for Strong Kids Campaign.
In 2004, she was named the honorary chairperson of the United Way Combined
Campaign, after serving as the honorary co-chairperson of the 2002 Lincoln
Youth Council "Let 'Em Play" Campaign.
A member of the University of Nebraska's Cather Circle, Revelle also served
as an instructor in Nebraska's Emerging Leaders program in 2001.
A 1984 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Revelle helped the Huskers
to the 1982 NCAA Women's College World Series and a Big Eight Conference
title in 1982, while earning All-Big Eight honors on the field. She was also a
five-time Amateur Softball Association All-American as a player.
Revelle began her career as an assistant coach at Nebraska Wesleyan in
1986, before being promoted to the head coaching position at Wesleyan in
1987. In 1988, Revelle served as an assistant coach at Cal State-Hayward
before accepting an assistant coaching position at San Jose State from 1988
through 1992.
In 1993, she returned to her alma mater to begin one of the most dominant
eras in Nebraska softball history. After establishing the foundation for success
in 1993 and 1994, Revelle led a resurgence in the Husker softball program
in 1995, finishing with a 43-20 record and a third-place finish in the Big Eight
standings. In 1996, Revelle led the Huskers to their first of 10 consecutive
NCAA Tournament appearances.
After leading the Huskers to their first Big 12 title with a perfect 16-0 league
record in 1998, Revelle guided NU to three consecutive 50-plus victory seasons
from 2000 to 2002, culminating with Nebraska's appearance in the College
World Series in 2002.
Chris Anderson
Boyd Epley
Associate A.D./
Communications
Associate A.D.
Nancy Kenny
Associate A.D./CFO
Dennis Leblanc
Paul Meyers
Paul Miles
Associate A.D. for Academic
Programs and Student Services
Associate A.D. for
Athletic Development
Associate A.D. for
Marketing
John Anderson
Gary Bargen
Assistant A.D.
for Ticketing
Assistant A.D.
for Compliance
Pat Logsdon
Diane Mendenhall
Assistant A.D. for
Athletic Administration
Assistant A.D. for
Athletic Development
Dr. Lonnie Albers
Shot Kleen
Director of Athletic
Medicine
Director of Technology
Butch Hug
Assistant A.D.
for Events
Keith Zimmer
Assistant A.D. for
Student Life
Keith Mann
Media Relations Director
19
NEBRASKA ADMINISTRATION
Harvey
Perlman, J.D.
Chancellor
Harvey Perlman was named the 19th
Chancellor of the University of NebraskaLincoln on April 1, 2001. He had served
as Interim Chancellor of the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln since July 16, 2000.
A former dean of the University of
Nebraska College of Law (1983-1998),
Perlman has also served as interim senior vice chancellor for academic
affairs at UNL (1995-96).
Perlman, a Nebraska native, was raised in York, Neb., and earned
a bachelor of arts in history and a juris doctorate from the University
of Nebraska. During his law school years, he was editor in chief of the
Nebraska Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif, a law
honors society.
He joined the NU law faculty in 1967 after spending a year as a Bigelow
Teaching Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. He served on
the Nebraska law faculty until 1974 when he joined the faculty at the
University of Virginia Law School. He returned to Nebraska in 1983 when
he accepted the deanship of
the Nebraska Law College,
Nebraska's Chancellors
a post he held until 1998
1871-1876 —
Allen R. Benton
when he returned to the
1876-1882 —
Edmund B. Farfield
professoriate. He has
also served as a visiting
1884-1889 —
Irvin J. Manatt
professor at Florida State
1891-1895 —
James H. Canfield
University College of Law,
1895-1899 — George E. MacLean
1900-1908 — E. Benjamin Andrews the University of Puget
Sound School of Law and
1908-1927 —
Samuel Avery
the University of Iowa
1927-1938 —
E.A. Burnett
College of Law.
1938-1946 — Chauncey S. Boucher
His area of legal
1947-1953 —
R.G. Gustavson
expertise lies in torts and
1953-1954 —
John K. Selleck
intellectual property. He is
a member of the Nebraska
1954-1968 —
Clifford Hardin
State and American Bar
1968-1971 —
Joseph Soshnik
Associations. He is a
1972-1975 — James H. Zumberge
1975-1976 — Adam C. Breckenridge member of the Council of
the American Law Institute.
1976-1980 —
Roy A. Young
He is a commissioner of
1980-1981 —
Robert H. Rutford
the National Conference
1981-1991 — Martin A. Massengale of Commissioners on
1991-1991 —
Jack Goebel
Uniform State Laws. He
1991-1995 —
Graham B. Spanier
is co-author of ‘Intellectual
Property and Unfair
1995-1996 —
Joan R. Leitzel*
Competition’ (5th edition,
1996-2000 —
James Moeser
1998) and co-reporter for
2000-2001 — Harvey S. Perlman*
the ‘Restatement of Unfair
2001-present —
Harvey S. Perlman
Competition’ (1994). In
* Interim Chancellor
February 2002, Perlman
was named a Life Fellow
of the American Bar Foundation. Fellow status denotes an individual
who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of his or
her community and is committed to the highest principles of the legal
profession. Only the top one-third of one percent of the legal profession
is eligible for nomination as a Fellow.
At the University of Nebraska, he was chair of the search advisory
committee for chancellor in 1991, chairs the Nebraska Bioethics Advisory
Panel, and is a member of the Nebraska State Fair Board and the Bowl
Championship Series Presidential Oversight Committee.
Perlman and his wife, Susan, an NU alumna, are the parents of two
daughters. Anne, who earned degrees from UNL and the University of
Nebraska Medical Center, practices medicine in Lincoln. Amie, who
graduated from UNL in May 2002, attends law school at Nebraska. He
and Susan enjoy the company of two grandchildren, Will and Ava.
20
Josephine
Potuto, J.D.
Athletic Representative
Josephine (Jo) R. Potuto, the Richard H.
Larson Professor of Constitutional Law, has
been Nebraska’s faculty representative to the
NCAA and Big 12 Conference since May 15,
1997.
In January 2003, Potuto was appointed to
hold one of the Big 12 Conference’s three
seats on the NCAA Division I Management Council, the chief administrative
and legislative body of Division I. She is also in her seventh year as a
member of the Division I Committee on Infractions (COI) and serves as
the committee vice chair. The COI meets six times annually to conduct
hearings, make findings of culpability and impose sanctions on institutions
for violations of NCAA bylaws. Potuto also serves as a member of the
executive committee of the Division IA Faculty Athletics Representatives
and has been appointed by the NCAA president to serve on a committee to
review NCAA rules governing enforcement and waiver processes. Among
her Big 12 Conference committee responsibilities, Potuto served on the Big
12 Conference Commissioner Search Committee and on the conference
strategic planning committee. She is the conference liaison to the Faculty
Athletics
Representatives
Association (FARA), where she
Nebraska's Faculty Reps also served as the Division I
representative on the executive
1931-1946 —
T.J. Thompson
committee. In 2002, Potuto
1947-1958 —
Earl Fullbrook
1959-1964 — Charles S. Miller was named Outstanding Faculty
Athletics Representative by
1965-1968 —
Merk Hobson
the All-American Football
1969-1970 —
John R. Davis
Foundation.
1971-1982 — Keith L. Broman
Potuto is an expert on issues
1982-1997 — James O'Hanlon related to gender equity in
1997-present — Josephine Potuto collegiate sports and generally
on the NCAA enforcement
and infractions process. In Fall
2004 Potuto testified before the
House Subcommittee on the Constitution regarding due process in NCAA
infractions hearings. With regard to other current issues in sports, Potuto
is a past adviser to the Uniform Law Commissioners Committee to draft
a sports agent statute, and she also drafted rules governing search and
seizure and hearings for the Nebraska Racing Commission.
At Nebraska, Potuto is an ex officio member of the academic senate’s
intercollegiate athletics committee and of the subcommittee to evaluate
academic support services. She also was vice chairwoman of the rules
governance committee of Nebraska’s NCAA site certification committee.
Potuto was project director and a drafter of the Uniform Law Commissioners
Sentencing and Corrections Act, as well as the drafter for the Nebraska
Supreme Court Committee to Draft Criminal Jury Instructions. She is the
author of three books and numerous articles.
Potuto teaches constitutional, procedural and criminal law as well as a
course in sports law. She joined the Nebraska law faculty as an assistant
professor in 1974 and was named to the Larson professorship in 1988.
Potuto has been a visiting professor of law at the University of Arizona,
Rutgers University, the Cardozo College of Law at New York’s Yeshiva
University, the University of Oregon, the University of North Carolina, and
Seton Hall University. While on sabbatical during the 1983-84 academic
year, Potuto was an assistant prosecutor in the Essex County (Newark,
N.J.) prosecutor’s office. She also spent five summers working in the
prosecutor’s office in Morris County, N.J.
Potuto earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Rutgers’ Douglass
College and her master’s degree in English literature at Seton Hall in 1971.
She received her juris doctorate at the Rutgers Law College in 1974.
She is a member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for Nebraska
and New Jersey.