Category: Athletic Directors

Former Creighton Athletics Director Rasmussen to join the NGF Board of Directors

Posted on by Matt Tompkins

Former Creighton Athletics Director Rasmussen to join the NGF Board of Directors

Former Creighton Athletics Director Rasmussen to join the NGF Board of Directors

The Nebraska Greats Foundation (501C-3 non profit) www.negreats.org which serves former athletes from Nebraska’s 4-year colleges and universities who face medical and financial challenges, is pleased to announce former Creighton University Director of Athletics Bruce Rasmussen has been elected to a three year term on the Board of Directors.

Says NGF Board President Jerry Murtaugh, “We are very pleased that Bruce is joining our mission of serving former collegiate athletes. Bruce’s career in coaching and athletics administration gives him a special understanding of an athlete’s struggle. He has been a great cheerleader for the NGF. His experience will be a great plus for us.”

Says Rasmussen, “I’m excited and honored to be a part of the NGF. In athletics, its’s ‘once a teammate always a teammate.’ Being on a team is being a team member for life. It isn’t a nice act, it’s a necessary act. The NGF helps our teammates for life.”

Rasmussen retired from CU in the summer of ’21 after a distinguished career first coaching women’s basketball then serving for 28 years as Director of Athletics. During his tenure as AD, The Bluejays reached unprecedented heights in on-field success, off-the-field success, fund raising, facilities, graduation rates, fan engagement and sustainability. The highlight of his career was ushering CU into the Big East Conference and serving as Chair of the prestigious NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Committee.

Since its inception in 2014, the NGF has issued over $400,000 in grants to qualified in-need former athletes.

From The AD’s Office: Joel Smith Chadron State College

Posted on by Matt Tompkins

From The AD’s Office: Joel Smith Chadron State College

MANY NEBRASKANS KNOW CHADRON STATE AS THE ALMA MATER OF TWO POPULAR NFL PLAYERS OF THE LAST GENERATION DON BEEBE AND DANNY WOODHEAD. HOW MUCH HAVE THEY MEANT TO THE PROGRAM LONG AFTER THEY PLAYED THEIR LAST GAME THERE?

Both Don and Danny have been the national face of Chadron State Athletics. They both continue to support the college and have been integral in our effort to provide resources for our student athletes. They are also good men which reflects well on our program.

BEFORE COMING TO CSC, YOU WERE COMMISSIONER OF THE ROCKY MOUTAIN ATHLETIC CONFERNCE, A RESPECTED DII LEAGUE. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO CHADRON FROM THE RMAC?

This is my 33rd year in athletics and I have had a diverse career. I spent 12 years as the commissioner and enjoyed that experience. However, I missed the day to day interactions with students that you get as an athletic director.

I had built a great working relationship with the president at Chadron and when Brad Smith retired Dr. Rhine asked me to consider replacing him. I was excited to return to a campus and took the position.

YOU HAVE BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE NCAA DIVISION II ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S ASSOCIATION. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE DII ATHLETICS FACES?

The most visible is our efforts to continue to operate in a Covid 19 world. We all are involved making it safe for our athletes to compete.

Outside of that the challenges of raising resources for the program is a constant. A new issue is engaging our athletes and community in discussions about inclusion and social justice.

CSC LAUCHED AN INITIATIVE SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO UPGRADE FACILITIES. YOU HAVE COMPLETED BOTH PHASES OF THE PROJECT, WHAT’S NEXT?

Well, we have in essence fixed, replaced, or created all of our athletic facilities. Now we have some of the best facilities in the RMAC. We need to do some more upgrade work in our locker rooms and with our indoor facility but right now we are proud of what we have.

YOU LIST THE GUITAR AS A HOBBY? HOW GOOD ARE YOU? WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCE?

Not as good as I once was. I do get to play a little now and then. I’m a little eclectic so I’ve been influenced by everyone from John Denver to James Taylor to Nat King Cole.

THE NEBRASKA GREATS FOUNDATION HAS YET TO SERVE A FORMER CHADRON STATE EAGLE IN NEED. HOW CAN WE GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL OF THE FORMER LETTER WINNERS OF CSC WHO EITHER MAY BE IN NEED OR KNOW OF A FORMER TEAMMATE WHO MAY NEED THE HELP THE NGF PROVIDES?

We continue to share the story of Nebraska Greats Foundation with our alumni. It may be a blessing that we have not had anyone of need yet. We are glad to be involved and know that Nebraska Greats will be there if we have someone of need.

From The AD’s Office: Bill Moos, UNL

Posted on by Matt Tompkins

From The AD’s Office: Bill Moos, UNL

Longtime College athletics Administrator Bill Moos took over the reins of Husker Athletics in 2018 and immediately set upon the task of making Husker athletics competitive again for both Conference Titles and National Championships in some of the highest profile sports.

Since his arrival in Lincoln, he has hired Scott Frost as Football Coach, Fred Hoiberg as Men’s Basketball Coach and Will Bolt as Head Baseball Coach.

The former standout offensive lineman at Washington State, has directed athletic programs at Montana, his Alma Mater (WSU) and the University of Oregon.

Raised on a cattle and wheat ranch near Olympia, WA he has won the popularity of Husker fans across the USA and around the World.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB SINCE COVID-19?

The challenges have been many and are constantly changing.

For me the most difficult challenge has been the inability to interact with people.

I have missed the chances to have daily interactions with our student-athletes and staff.

The ability to sit down at the training table and have lunch with our young men and women and talk about their seasons.

And I miss the ability to interact with our great fans.

Whether it is at a game in one of our sold-out venues, or visiting cities and towns across our great state.

I cherish all of those opportunities and have missed seeing our great people.

THE BIG TEN SCHEDULE DOESN’T LEAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IF SCHOOLS LOSE GAMES—-HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT A MAJOR DISRUPTION IN NOVEMBER AND EARLY DECEMBER?

All we can do is continue to be vigilant and cautious in everything we do here at Nebraska to maintain our ability to play games.

If nothing else, this pandemic and this virus should have taught us all to control what you can control.

That is how we are operating at Nebraska and that is how we will continue to operate as we head into the late fall and winter months.

NOW AT NEBRASKA FOR THREE YEARS, WHAT ARE THE MAJOR GOALS YOU’VE REACHED FOR THE DEPARTMENT?

I am confident we have positioned Nebraska for success in the years to come.

The wins and losses aren’t quite where we want them yet, but I know we are about to turn a corner in a lot of our programs.

I have been fortunate to hire nine head coaches since I have been at Nebraska and those coaches, and all of our long-time coaches, are building programs with a strong foundation that are positioned for long-term success.

I would also add that we have made strides in the area of facilities. We have upgraded our facilities in several sports and are prepared to build the finest football training facility in the country. That project has been delayed by the pandemic, but it will be ready to roll next year and when it is complete it will be a difference-maker for our program.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES NEBRASKA FOOTBALL AND MEN’S BASKETBALL FACE IN CONSISTENTLY COMPETING FOR A BIG TEN TITLE?

We have the resources in place to compete for conference championships in all of our sports.

The biggest challenge is pretty simple.

We play in the most competitive conference in the country with a lot of great programs.  Winning isn’t easy.

That being said we are poised to start competing with the top programs in the Big Ten.

NOT MANY FANS REMEMBER THAT IT WAS YOU AS A.D. AT OREGON WHO brought PHIL KNIGHT into the fold with the Ducks. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT PHIL MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW?

Phil is a brilliant visionary who is extremely innovative and fiercely competitive.

One would never guess that he is somewhat shy and reserved.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE GAME OF FOOTBALL? AND AS A FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN HOW DO YOU WATCH A GAME?

I do often focus in on line play when watching as it will most often determine the game’s outcome.

WHO’S THE TOUGHEST PLAYER YOU FACED ON THE FIELD?

Jeff Winans (USC), Dave Tipton (Stanford), Dave Butz (Purdue).

(Note: played against Dave Butz in the East/West Shrine All Star Game)

TALK ABOUT WHY YOU AND THE NEBRASKA ATHLETIC DEPT HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE NEBRASKA GREATS FOUNDATION?

The Mission of the Nebraska Greats Foundation fits so well with everything I believe in, what our department believes in and how Nebraskans live their lives.

This is an organization that prioritizes Huskers looking out for Huskers who may be in need.

It is no different than how neighbors help neighbors in our state.

THERE HAVE TO BE FORMER HUSKERS WHO FACE MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES….WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE RELUCTANT TO ASK FOR HELP?

Particularly in the challenging times we are currently facing, I am sure there are many in our Husker family who could use assistance.

I would simply tell them if you are hurting—medically, financially, emotionally, whatever the issue—turn to your Husker family.

You made life-long bonds with teammates when you were here at Nebraska and those teammates are eager to help.

Once a Husker, always a Husker!

From The AD’s Office: Marc Bauer University of Nebraska Kearney

Posted on by Matt Tompkins

From The AD’s Office: Marc Bauer University of Nebraska Kearney

From The AD’s Office: Marc Bauer UNK

Marc Bauer is one of the most accomplished coaches and respected Athletic Directors in all of NCAA Division II. He continues to be the face and force of UNK Athletics. After a stellar career at UNO, he built a powerhouse wrestling program at UNK. He and his wife Beth (former wrestling cheerleader at KHS) are the parents of four children and three grandchildren.

You made your mark as an athlete wrestling. What factors got you into wrestling?

I would be the first to admit that wrestling did not come naturally to me. I started in 4th grade. My dad was a high school official, and he had taken me to a match in Junction City, KS. I only lost one match in middle school, but I did not love the sport by any means. I was 5’0 tall and weighed 100 pounds entering high school. I might as well have been one of the tackling dummies or the water boy because I wasn’t much good on the football field.

As a small boy, I was trying to find my place in a masculine world of sports. I accomplished more than I would have ever imagined in high school, setting my sights on competing collegiately.

The adjustment from high school to college was like nothing I had ever endured. You had one of two choices, adapt or die! With the support and help of my teammates, the guidance by Coach Mike Denney, (UNO) and moral support from my wife, I started to find some success.

Good people got me into wrestling, and they helped keep me there.

Athletes constantly refer to times of failure as the fuel they used to reach their goals. Did you have one, and what was it?

Setbacks and failures are part of athletics, and I accepted the fact that I was going to have to work hard.

I jokingly tell people, “I like exceeding others’ expectations.” Although I was not always the most skilled or blessed with God-given talent, I pushed myself harder and smarter to overcome obstacles.

After college, you admitted you were reluctant to get into coaching. But, you ultimately did. What changed your mind?

As an elementary education major and someone that had started a family early, I knew that my senior season would be the last time I competed and that I would turn my focus to my career in education.

In my second year of teaching I found myself facing an opportunity to help coach a 5-week Junior High season. Although I was not fully committed to coaching, I had the opportunity to coach my youngest brother, Joshua. When I went to college, he was seven and I thought this was a good way to get to know him better and help him succeed in wrestling.

I committed to coaching Josh’s middle school team for two years, and I enjoyed working with the kids. During the second year, the UNK coach, Jeff Cardwell, called and asked if I would join the staff. All I had to do was show up to practice and work with the kids. I fell in love with coaching. I enjoyed the freedom of collegiate athletics and having the opportunity to impact the lives of student-athletes during a very challenging time of life.

Working with Jeff as an assistant, I had gone back to school fulltime and earned my master’s degree. Upon graduation, I committed to working part-time for Kearney Public Schools as a PE specialist at one of the elementary schools. One week after I accepted the job, Jeff resigned and moved back to Oregon with his family. It was late in the school year, so I took over on an interim basis. For the next 14-years, I taught elementary PE and was the head wrestling coach at UNK.

How did you build such a successful wrestling program at UNK (National Championships) during an era of budget cuts and Title IX?

I started by doing the little things first. I worked hard to win people over in our building, on our campus, and in our community. That meant regular visits to the equipment room with a 24 pack of Mountain Dew and Loper wrestling apparel. I sent personal letters inviting professors, administrators, and alumni to our home events, with hopes of building relationships across campus and the community.

It was not until my third year that I got an assistant coach. We started and grew two prominent kid’s wrestling tournaments and a camp system that became the lifeblood of our program. We did not just host tournaments and camps we hosted events that drew people back yearly.

It was not anyone thing or one person behind the rise of our program. It took an army of people who were willing to invest their time and resources to help ensure our student-athletes were getting the best possible experience at UNK and as members of our community.

What is the future of college wrestling?

As an Olympic sport, which continues to excel on the world-level and with the growth of women’s wrestling worldwide, I believe the sport has been positioned to continue to be a viable option to attract enrollment in higher education and provide opportunities for kids (boys and girls) to get involved in a sport that best suits them.

Like coaching, you’ve admitted that being an athletic director wasn’t always on your radar, yet you became one.

What triggered your passion for that path?

In 2011, I attended the NWCA Leadership Academy. Although the program was intended for young and aspiring coaches, I was asked to participate in helping identify the strengths and weaknesses of the program. The following year, the NWCA President, Mike Moyer, inquired if I would consider being a mentor in the program.

I agreed, and for several years, I mentored young coaches. I enjoyed the role. In 2016, I resigned from coaching, knowing the program was in great hands with Dalton Jensen, to pursue my doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University and moved in the Kinesiology Sports Science Program at UNK. As a professor, I was teaching future physical education teachers, and I enjoyed that immensely.

I was in the right place at the right time, and the opportunity to lead the athletic department at UNK became a reality. Chancellor Kristensen was looking for someone to restore the position of athletic director to one of loyalty and openness while giving consistent attention to balancing the needs of our student-athletes within the practical situation of our resources.

What is the biggest challenge facing college athletics today?

Most recently, the biggest challenge is helping our student-athletes through the uncertainty and challenges they face with the COVID pandemic, political unrest, and racial tensions.

We have seen an overwhelming increase in mental health issues. Although we are working to provide the best possible experience for student-athletes at UNK, many factors weigh heavily on them. Student-athletes today are high functioning young adults who want to make a difference in a world that seems turned upside down right now. The recent NCAA Student-Athlete COVID-19 Well-being Survey completed by 37,600 student-athletes in May 2020 shows that a high majority of them are not doing well.

Moreover, technology increasingly isolates our students and compounds the issues further, such as feeling overwhelmed or viewing themselves as failures. We want our student-athletes to know that we care deeply for them and that we are here to support and help them get through these tough times.

How can the Nebraska Greats Foundation assist UNK in identifying former Lopers who may need assistance with medical issues?

The NGF has already had a tremendous impact on our campus. In July 2018, NGF helped Preston Hall’s family after Preston was in a life-threatening head-on car collision. NGF came alongside Preston’s family to help at a time when they were least expecting it, yet had a tremendous impact helping them through the financial challenges that they faced.

We are blessed to have an organization like the Nebraska Greats Foundation to assist current or former Nebraska college athletes. The best way to identify former Lopers who may need assistance with medical issues is to continue to spread the word about the amazing deeds of NGF. Such deeds are often the work of ordinary people coming alongside those in need. For some, it may be the miracle they need to help them shine once again.