‘The start of a great chapter’: Nebraska introduces Troy Dannen as athletic director

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska formally introduced Troy Dannen on Tuesday as its new athletic director.

“We can’t wait to see what you’re going to do for the University of Nebraska,” interim University of Nebraska President Chris Kabourek told him.  “This is the start of a great chapter in Husker athletics.”

Kabourek began the event at Memorial Stadium by detailing the search process for a new AD.

After hearing of Trev Alberts’ departure, Kabourek said he took about an hour to digest the news then “rolled up” his sleeves and got to work.

He said the Board of Regents trusted him to move quickly and decisively in the search.

Several candidates reached out for the job, but Kabourek said Dannen — Washington’s athletic director — was at the top of the list.

The two ironed out a deal around 4 a.m. last Wednesday.

Kabourek signed a six-year contract with UNL, with a $1.6 million salary for his first year.

Dannen took charge almost immediately and went to Memphis, Tennessee, to see Nebraska men’s basketball play in March Madness.

He then traveled to Lincoln to see the baseball and softball teams before going to Corvallis, Oregon, to watch Nebraska women’s basketball face Oregon State.

Dannen thanked several people on Tuesday, including Gov. Jim Pillen, Board of Regents Chairman Rob Schafer and interim AD Dennis Leblanc.

“When I was my son’s age, Nebraska was the center of the universe of college football,” Dannen said. “And I admired it, I wanted to be a part of it.”

He spoke highly of Husker football coach Matt Rhule.

“Part of the attraction of this job at this particular time is working with Matt,” Dannen said. “He and I have to be great partners. I’ve got to work for him, I’ve got to advocate for him, and I’ve got to champion him.”

Dannen is Nebraska’s fourth athletic director in the last 10 years.

He was hired at Washington in October.

Before Washington, Dannen had served as Tulane’s athletic director since 2015, leading the Green Waves to 49 All-American honors, 21 conference championships and 41 postseason appearances.

He has one “unyielding expectation”: that Cornhusker athletics be the standard by which other universities measure themselves.

“Our student-athletes will walk out of here, and they will win for the next 40 years of their lives because of the experience they get at the University of Nebraska,” Dannen said.  “That is our priority, that is our mission.”