The 17th athletic director in Nebraska history has officially been introduced.
Nebraska Athletics held an introductory event Tuesday for Troy Dannen, the new Nebraska athletic director. The event included comments from Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and interim NU System President Chris Kabourek.
“I may be in the interim role, but I am fortunate the Board of Regents entrusted me with the full authority of the president to move quickly and be decisive on this Athletic Director search,” Kabourek said.
Kabourek said his list of things he wanted in the next AD included someone with Nebraska work ethic, who is smart, strategic, who is aligned with the vision for excellence across the institution, who could get right in the room with Big Ten and NCAA leaders and be a leading voice in these conversations about the changing landscape in college athletics, who would fight for the student-athletes and coaches, and maybe most important, someone who wants to be on Team Nebraska.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in Troy Dannen we’ve found that person,” Kabourek said.
Dannen thanked Kabourek for the confidence placed in him to take the post.
“I know what this place is and think I can stand here and be a part of it in this role,” Dannen said. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime for all of us, everyone in my family.”
Dannen noted how Nebraska football became successful, by innovating under Bob Devaney with the strength program.
“But today, it’s more than strength,” Dannen said. “It’s more than nutrition. It’s more than even the degree. It’s more than facilities. It’s more than giving them a laptop when they come. It’s more than, ‘Hey, we’re going to prepare you for success in your life.’
“Success now is about innovation and NIL. It’s innovation and how we embrace the role of the student-athlete inside of our athletic department.”
Dannen closed by saying the Nebraska is going to win in a number of areas.
“Ultimately, we are going to win,” Dannen said. “We’re going to win Big Ten Championships, National Championships and academically. We’re going to win socially, with character and with integrity.
“At the end of the day, the greatest win of all that we will have here is our student-athletes will walk out of here and win for the next 40 years of their lives because of the experience they get at the University of Nebraska. That is our priority and mission. Sometimes it gets lost but we will recruit, we will retain and send everyone out of here a winner. That’s what the University of Nebraska is.
“This is the greatest time at the greatest of places and I will tell you my family and I are thrilled. It’s a great honor to be here. Go Big Red.”
You can watch the full event below.