Head Coach Mike Anderson - Huskers · 2004 Nebraska Baseball Recruiting and Media Guide 18 19 2004...

2004 Nebraska Baseball Recruiting and Media Guide18


A new era of Husker baseball was ushered in on June 21, 2002, when Mike Anderson was named the 23rd head coach in the program’s history. When Anderson, who had served as an assistant in the Husker program for the previous eight seasons, stepped to the microphone for the fi rst time as head coach, he made it clear that his student-athletes were his top priority.

“This is about kids,” Anderson said when addressing the media for the fi rst time as the Huskers’ head coach. “This is about the commitment to young men getting their education at the University of Nebraska, getting their education on the baseball fi eld, and obviously winning baseball games.”

Anderson made an immediate impression, guiding Nebraska to a 47-18 record in 2003. After being picked fourth in the preseason by the conference coaches and losing two-thirds of the squad’s preseason pitching rotation to injury, the Huskers won the Big 12 regular-season title with a 20-7 record, clinching the title on the fi nal day of the season. He became the second fi rst-year Husker coach to lead NU to a conference title and the fi rst since 1929. For his efforts, he was tabbed by his peers as the Big 12 Coach of the Year.

First baseman Matt Hopper and pitcher Aaron Marsden joined Coach Anderson in sweeping the Big 12’s major awards, as they were chosen as Player

and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Both Hopper and Marsden earned second-team All-America honors in the process. The duo was joined by designated hitter Curtis Ledbetter and pitcher Quinton Robertson as fi rst-team All-Big 12 selections.

While the Huskers continued their successful run on the fi eld, it was also a banner year in the classroom. Jeff Leise and Aaron Marsden were named CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-Americans, while Leise repeated as the Academic All-American of the Year in baseball, becoming only the second player in the award’s 16-year history to be selected as college baseball’s top student-athlete in consecutive years. NU also led the league with six fi rst-team academic All-Big 12 selections, while 20 of the 39 players on the roster fi nished the spring semester with GPAs of 3.0 or better.

Commitment to student-athletes and commitment to teaching – these have been the hallmarks throughout Anderson’s coaching tenure at NU.

Since joining the staff in the fall of 1994, Anderson’s teaching has been evident, as he has coached a total of 14 fi rst-team all-conference honorees, while 22 of his former players have signed pro contracts.

His most famous protege is current Anaheim Angel All-Star Darin Erstad, who earned fi rst-team All-America honors in 1995, when he was the fi rst overall selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Anderson also helped Ken Harvey develop into the nation’s best hitter in 1999. Harvey led Division I with a .478 average, while belting 23 homers en route to fi rst-team All-America honors. A fi nalist for the Rotary Smith and the Golden Spikes awards, Harvey was a fi fth-round selection by the Kansas City Royals in 1999 and made his major league debut in September of 2001. The pipeline to the major leagues has continued with Anderson, as Todd Sears, a fi rst-team All-Big 12 selection and third-team All-American in 1997 was called up by the Minnesota Twins in 2002. Jamal Strong became the most recent Husker major leaguer, as he joined the Seattle Mariners in 2003. Strong was a two-year starter for the Big Red in 1999 and 2000, helping the Huskers to consecutive NCAA appearances.

Seven Huskers have been tabbed fi rst-team All-Americans under Anderson’s tutelage, while four players – Erstad (1995), Harvey (1999), Dan Johnson (2001) and Jed Morris (2002) – have been fi nalists for various national player-of-the-year awards.

In 2003, Marsden, a third-round selection by Colorado, Leise, Hopper, pitcher Jason Burch and outfi elder Drew Anderson were selected in the First-Year Player Draft, marking the fourth straight year that four or more players were selected. They join other Mike Anderson-coached Huskers Todd Sears, Jed Dalton, Pat Driscoll, Steve Fish, Brian Johnson, Mel Motley, Francis Collins, Bryan Schmidt, Matt Meyer, Justin Cowan, Jamal Strong, Adam Shabala, Adam Stern, John Cole, Dan Johnson and Jed Morris in the professional ranks.

Before he was named head coach, Anderson enjoyed a successful tenure as the Huskers’ hitting coach, as NU led the Big 12 in hitting in each of his fi nal four seasons.

In 2002, the Huskers led the Big 12 in seven offensive categories, including batting average (.315), hits (753) and runs scored (543). Individually, catcher Jed Morris and center fi elder Jeff Leise were both fi rst-team All-Americans, as Morris led the Big 12 in both homers (23) and RBIs (90), while Leise ranked among the conference leaders in nine offensive categories and tied NU’s single-season hits record with 109.

In 2001, Anderson coached a Husker offense that ranked in the top-10 nationally in both team average (.334) and runs per game (9.20), while also fi nishing second nationally in total hits (787) and runs scored (607). NU led the Big 12 in 11 offensive categories, including batting average, runs scored, home runs (81), walks (364), stolen bases (124) and sacrifi ce fl ies (32). Anderson coached a trio of fi rst-team All-Americans in outfi elder John Cole, designated hitter Matt Hopper and fi rst baseman Dan Johnson, a fi nalist for the Dick Howser Trophy as collegiate baseball’s top player. Johnson and Hopper ranked second and third nationally in RBIs, with 86 and 85 respectively, while Johnson was second nationally with 25 homers.

Throughout his tenure, Anderson has annually guided Nebraska to prolifi c numbers. In 1995, the fi rst season following his arrival, NU raised its batting average to .323, a 65-point increase over the previous season. Since then, the Huskers have averaged 513 runs scored, 66 home runs, 684 hits, 126 doubles and have had a batting average of .318.

Mike Anderson guided Nebraska to a 47-18 record and a Big 12 regular-season title in his fi rst season as head coach of the Husker program.

Head Coach Mike Anderson



Anderson at a GlanceCoaching Record2003 47-18 (.723)Career 47-18 (.723)

Coaching HonorsBig 12 Coach of the Year 2003

Coaching ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska, Head Coach 2002-presentUniversity of Nebraska, Assistant Coach 1995-2002Northern Colorado, Assistant Coach 1994Toronto Blue Jays, Professional Scout 1992-93Northern Colorado Lab School, Head Coach 1991-94American Legion, Head Coach 1989-94

Playing ExperienceUniversity of Northern Colorado 1983-86California Angels organization 1986-89

Personal InformationDate of Birth: June 8, 1965; Alma Mater: Northern Colorado, 1990; Wife: Kim; Daughters: Kaleigh (12); Madison (8) and Andie (1); Son: Taylor (10)

Husker Hitters under Coach AndersonHonors and AwardsNational Player of the Year Finalists (4) :

1995 - Darin Erstad (Golden Spikes Award); 1999 - Ken Harvey (Golden Spikes and Rotary Smith Awards); 2001- Dan Johnson (Dick Howser Award); 2002 - Jed Morris (ABCA National Player of the Year)

First-Team All-Americans (7) : Darin Erstad (1995), Ken Harvey (1999), Dan Johnson (2001), John Cole (2001),Matt Hopper (2001), Jed Morris (2002) and Jeff Leise (2002)

Conference Players of the Year (3) : Darin Erstad (1995), Jed Morris (2002) and Matt Hopper (2003)

First-Team All-Conference Honorees (14) : Darin Erstad (1995), Alvie Shepherd (1995), Todd Sears (1997), Francis Collins(1997), Ken Harvey (1999), Justin Cowan (2000), Matt Hopper (2000-01-03),Dan Johnson (2000-01), Jeff Leise (2002), Jed Morris (2002), Curtis Ledbetter(2003)

Freshmen All-Americans (4) : Todd Sears (1995), Matt Hopper (2000), Daniel Bruce (2002) and Alex Gordon(2003)

CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year (2) : Jeff Leise (2002-03)

First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4) :Erik Mumm (1999), John Cole (2001) and Jeff Leise (2002-03)

First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Honorees: 23Major League Baseball Draft Picks or Free Agent Signees: 22

Nebraska Players Selected into Pro BaseballYear Player Professional Team Round1995 Darin Erstad California Angels First1995 Alvie Shepherd Baltimore Orioles First1995 Jed Dalton California Angels 19th1996 Mel Motley Cleveland Indians 29th1996 Matt Meyer Los Angeles Dodgers Free Agent1996 Pete Jenkins Milwaukee Brewers Free Agent1997 Todd Sears Colorado Rockies Third1997 Patrick Driscoll Philadelphia Phillies 24th1997 Steve Fish Anaheim Angels 22nd1997 Francis Collins Cleveland Indians Free Agent1998 Bryan Schmidt San Diego Padres 32nd1999 Ken Harvey Kansas City Royals Fifth1999 Brian Johnson Kansas City Royals 24th2000 Jamal Strong Seattle Mariners Sixth2000 Adam Shabala San Francisco Giants 10th2000 Justin Cowan Kansas City Royals 20th2001 Adam Stern Atlanta Braves Third2001 John Cole Seattle Mariners Fifth2001 Dan Johnson Oakland Athletics Seventh2001 Matt Hopper* San Francisco Giants 36th2002 Jeff Leise* Anaheim Angels Seventh2002 Jed Morris Oakland Athletics 36th2003 Matt Hopper Philadelphia Phillies 10th2003 Jeff Leise San Diego Padres 12th2003 Drew Anderson Milwaukee Brewers 24th* - did not sign

The Anderson Family (clockwise from top): Kaleigh, Mike, Andie, Kim, Madison and Taylor.

As the outfi elders coach, Anderson has coached three All-Americans and seven all-conference selections, including Leise, who was a fi rst-team All-American in 2002, while leading the Huskers to their second straight CWS appearance.

Anderson’s commitment to his student-athletes also extends to the classroom. Over the past nine years, the Huskers have placed 40 players on the fi rst-team all-conference squad. Nebraska has had eight CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, including two in each of the past three seasons and 11 fi rst-team academic all-district selections in the past seven seasons.

Before arriving in Lincoln in the fall of 1994, Anderson was the top assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. He joined the Bears’ staff after four years as a head coach with the Northern Colorado Lab School.

Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Anderson has worked as a camp instructor for Greg Riddoch’s Major League Baseball School and Tom Runnells’ Pro Clinics. Both Riddoch and Runnells managed in the major leagues. Anderson also spent two years as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.

From 1983 through 1986, Anderson was an outfi elder at Northern Colorado for College Hall of Fame Coach Tom Petroff. Anderson was an eighth-round pick by the California Angels, spending four seasons with the Angels organization. Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Northern Colorado in 1990.

Anderson graduated from Eaton High School in Eaton, Colo., where he was a fi rst-team All-Colorado shortstop for Coach Jim Danley.

He and his wife Kim have four children: Kaleigh, Taylor, Madison and Andie. Taylor has served as the Huskers’ bat boy the past fi ve seasons.

Head Coach Mike Anderson



Who are your biggest coaching influences?I have had a number of infl uences at various levels going all the way back

to high school. Over the years, I have tried to take the best traits of each of these coaches, as well as the ones I played for in pro baseball, to create my own style. Learning from Coach (Dave) Van Horn for fi ve years was a very positive experience in many ways. Early on, the two I learned the most from were my high school coach Jim Danley, who was one of the best coaches in terms of relating to players, and Tom Petroff, who was my college coach at Northern Colorado. From him, I learned about baseball philosophy and teaching the game the proper way.

What is your coaching philosophy?There are a lot of parts that go into a coaching philosophy. In terms of the

program, I love the hitting aspect, but understand that pitching and defense wins championships. It is important for our staff to create a great environment for our pitching and defense, while at the same time, continuing to develop the best hitters we can.

Our philosophy is to recruit student-athletes with great academic needs and talent. We always say that our success is based upon not only recruiting great talent, but also developing that talent when they come to Nebraska. We take a lot of pride in the development of our student-athletes, both on and off the fi eld, to give them the best chance of being successful in whatever they choose, whether it is pro baseball or in the business world.

Can you talk about the staff’s recruiting philosophy and what you look for in potential student-athletes?

We have a three-tiered approach to recruiting. First, we want to look for players throughout the state – and that will always be our focus – then we look to the Midwest and then nationally. We feel the talent level in this state is very good and if you look at the makeup of our roster, we have tried to make recruiting quality players from this state a priority. For kids around the state and the Midwest, there is something special about playing baseball for the University of Nebraska.

As for what we look for in players, we look for players who meet our needs, both talent-wise and academically. It is two fold. You can’t be one or the other. We’ve been successful over the years because we recruited players who not only have talent, but also have the willingness to work hard and develop in our program. There are a lot of kids that feel as though they have reached their potential, but we want our players to come in with the expectation that if they come to NU, they will continue to develop, both as players and as people.

What are your objectives for the Nebraska baseball program?Our whole objective is to create the best possible environment for developing

as student-athletes and putting them in a position to be successful following their time at Nebraska. On the fi eld, our main goal is to annually contend for the Big 12 title, as well as put ourselves in contention for the NCAA Tournament and the College World Series. To have an opportunity to be successful in the postseason, you need to do well in the conference, so that is an emphasis of ours. The Big 12 is annually one of the best, if not the best baseball conference in the country, so if we are in contention for the league title, then we should have an opportunity to be successful in the postseason. We would like to contend for a national title, and that is a goal that every program, no matter what level, strives for. To do that, you need both a purpose and sometimes a little luck. In the conference, it’s not going to take luck – it takes hard work and going out and giving your complete effort every time we take the fi eld.

When you are recruiting a potential student-athlete, what are Nebraska’s selling points?

I think Nebraska offers a lot to student-athletes. The fi rst thing we tell players is that if they come to Nebraska, they will have the opportunity to work with the best support staff in the country. From our academic coordinators to our strength staff to medicine and nutrition, all of these aspects are included to help each person reach their potential and give them the best chance for success.

Another major selling point is the Nebraska education, and that is a special thing in this region of the country. Once you graduate from the University of Nebraska, there are doors that open up to you, and that creates a great environment to succeed professionally.

Some of the other things that make Nebraska such a strong sell is the chance to play in an outstanding facility in front of some of the most supportive fans in college baseball and the chance to work with a coaching staff that not only

knows about winning, but also cares about each individual. That helps us foster a great team environment. They have an opportunity to play in front of fans who are supportive unlike any other program in the country.

Can you talk about your staff’s academic support system?Our coaching staff puts a strong emphasis on academics. We believe if you

are good in the classroom and in the community, you will put yourself in a position to succeed on the fi eld. We try to make that a priority for our kids. One of the main reasons that we have been so successful is because of the discipline of the players in our program, and that carries over to other parts outside of baseball. With all the time demands that baseball has during the season, we get a lot of support from Dennis (Leblanc), Katie (Jewell) and the rest of the people who work in our academic program.

Can you talk about the home-field advantage of Hawks Field? The thing we have learned over the past two years is that, while the facility

is great, the fans are even better. The fans that fi ll this place are what makes it a special environment, and that is something that carried over from when we played at Buck Beltzer. As coaches, this is a marvelous facility to play in and recruit to because it is one of, if not the fi nest college baseball stadium in the country. It also gives our fans a great environment to watch baseball because it is such an intimate setting and they are close to the action. Playing here is a win-win for our program and our fans.

What is your philosophy on non-conference scheduling?One of our primary goals is to be in the postseason each year, and to do that,

you have to have a great strength of schedule and RPI. Being a northern school, we will annually travel south to get games in early so we are ready for the start of conference play. We also believe that it is important to bring quality opponents to the state for games and that is something we will continue to do.

Can you talk about the impact that the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex will have on the Husker baseball program?

The Osborne Complex will have a tremendous effect on our program when it opens in two years. We are fortunate to have the facilities we have right now, which are already among the best in the country, but the Osborne Athletic Complex will give our players the best combination of baseball facilities in the country. Currently, we use the North Fieldhouse and Cook Pavilion when we work out indoors. The new facility will allow us to have enough room to do both in the same place, giving our players a year-round indoor home. The facility will also include our strength and conditioning and medical facilities, allowing us to take advantage of all of their expertise, which can only be benefi cial to our student-athletes in the long run.

Q & A with Coach Anderson



Rob Childress begins his second season as Associate Head Coach after being named to the post on June 21, 2002. He is in his seventh year as an assistant coach at Nebraska and has been a collegiate assistant coach for 13 seasons, including the past nine years at the Division I level. He has spent the last six seasons at NU overseeing the pitching staff and the Husker recruiting efforts after serving with former Nebraska Head Coach Dave Van Horn at Northwestern (La.) State from 1995 to 1997.

Since arriving on the Nebraska campus in January of 1998, Childress has molded the Husker pitching staff into one of the nation’s fi nest units. Husker pitchers have posted sub-4.50 ERAs in each of the past four seasons - including consecutive seasons under 4.00 - marking the fi rst time since the mid-1980s that Husker hurlers have accomplished the feat. The pitching staff has also turned in the top fi ve single-season strikeout totals in school history under Childress’ watch, including a school-record 503 strikeouts in 2001, while issuing fewer than three walks per game in each of the past four seasons.

Under Childress’ tutelage, 15 Husker pitchers have been drafted or signed as free agents over the past six seasons, while only three of the selections were drafted before coming to Nebraska. The list is headlined by Shane Komine, the only two-time All-American in school history and a two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. In fact, Childress has coached three of the past four Big 12 Pitchers of the year (Komine 2000-01; Aaron Marsden, 2003), four fi rst-team All-Big 12 pitchers and fi ve Freshman All-American hurlers over the past fi ve seasons.

In 2003, the Husker pitching staff guided Nebraska to 47 wins and the school’s second Big 12 regular-season title in three years. The Huskers ranked second in the Big 12 and 29th nationally with a 3.79 ERA, while ranking fi rst or second in the league in ERA, shutouts (fi ve, fi rst), saves (17, second), complete games (nine, second), walks per nine innings (2.57, fi rst); runs allowed (291, fi rst) and earned runs (242, second).

Individually, Marsden was chosen as the Big 12’s Pitcher of the Year and captured second-team All-America honors from the American Baseball

Coaches Association after going 8-3 with a 2.90 ERA. He was joined on the All-Big 12 fi rst team by right-hander Quinton Robertson, who went 10-2 in his fi rst year at NU. Freshman Tim Schoeninger was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball going 4-2 with a team-high six saves.

Marsden was selected in the third round by the Colorado Rockies - the highest Husker pitcher drafted since 1995 - while reliever Jason Burch was chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 21st round after going 4-1 with fi ve saves and a 2.89 ERA.

Nebraska’s pitching depth carried the Huskers to 47 wins and a second straight College World Series appearance in 2002. The Huskers fi nished second in the Big 12 and 15th nationally with a 3.66 team ERA, while ranking fi rst or second in the league in four categories, including ERA, complete games (nine, fi rst), shutouts (fi ve, second) and opposing batting average (.250, second). Komine earned second-team All-America honors from Baseball America and the ABCA with a 10-0 record and a 2.33 ERA, while Marsden capped an 8-1 campaign with fi rst-team All-Big 12 and conference newcomer-of-the-year honors. Three Huskers, Komine, Marsden and Jamie Rodrigue, were selected as national pitchers of the week for their performances during the year, while Phil Shirek and Brian Duensing were tabbed to Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman All-America team.

Komine, a ninth-round selection by the Oakland Athletics, became one of only six pitchers in NCAA history to strike out 500 hitters and win 40 games. Reliever Waylon Byers was chosen in the 21st round by the Florida Marlins and J.D. Scholten was signed by the Canadian Baseball League.

The Husker pitching staff was instrumental in leading NU to its fi rst regular-season conference title in 51 years in 2001. Led by Komine, a fi rst-team All-American, and fi rst-team All-Big 12 reliever Thom Ott, the Huskers paced the Big 12 in saves (15) and strikeouts per game (7.91), while ranking second with four shutouts. The 4.41 team ERA marked the fi rst time that NU posted sub 4.50 ERAs in consecutive seasons since the 1983-84 seasons. Four Husker pitchers were selected in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft – equaling the highest number of NU pitchers drafted in over a decade. Ott was a 10th-round

Aaron Marsden was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and was the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2003, leading Nebraska to a Big 12 regular-season title.

Associate Head Coach Rob Childress

Childress at a GlanceCoaching ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska, Associate Head Coach 2002-presentUniversity of Nebraska, Assistant Coach 1998-2002Northwestern State University, Assistant Coach 1995-97Texarkana College, Head Coach 1994Northwood University, Assistant Coach 1993Texarkana College, Assistant Coach 1991-92

Personal InformationDate of Birth: Sept. 26, 1968; Alma Mater: Northwood (Texas) University, 1990; Graduate Degree: East Texas State, 1994; Wife: Amanda; Daughter: Hannah (7); Son: Maxwell (1) .

The Childress Family (clockwise from top): Rob, Hannah, Maxwell and Amanda.



Husker Pitchers under Coach ChildressHonors and AwardsFirst-Team All-American (2):

Shane Komine, 2000-01Big 12 Pitcher of the Year (3):

Shane Komine, 2000-01; Aaron Marsden, 2003First-Team All-Big 12 (6):

Shane Komine, 2000-01; Thom Ott, 2001; Aaron Marsden, 2002-03; Quinton Robertson, 2003

Big 12 Freshman of the Year (1): Shane Komine, 1999Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (1):

Aaron Marsden, 2002Freshman All-Americans (5):

Shane Komine, 1999; Jamie Rodrigue, 2000; Brian Duensing, 2002, Phil Shirek,2002; Tim Schoeninger, 2003

Academic All-Americans (3): Matt Schuldt, 1998, Shane Komine, 2002; Aaron Marsden, 2003

Nebraska Pitchers Selected into Pro BaseballYear Player Professional Team/League Selected1998 Matt Schuldt Tampa Bay Devil Rays 34th round1999 Jay Sirianni Cleveland Indians Free agent2000 Andy Bent Atlanta Braves 16th round2000 Scott Fries Chicago Cubs 25th round2000 Trevor Bullock Philadelphia Phillies 27th round 2000 Chad Wiles Seattle Mariners Free agent2001 Thom Ott Los Angeles Dodgers 10th round 2001 Brian Rodaway Houston Astros 17th round 2001 Shane Komine* St. Louis Cardinals 19th round 2001 R.D. Spiehs San Francisco Giants 33rd round2002 Shane Komine Oakland Athletics Ninth round2002 Waylon Byers Florida Marlins 21st round2002 J.D. Scholten Canadian Baseball League Free Agent2003 Aaron Marsden Colorado Rockies Third round2003 Jason Burch St. Louis Cardinals 21st round* - did not sign

selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brian Rodaway was chosen in the 16th round by the Houston Astros, and R.D. Spiehs was taken in the 33rd round by San Francisco. In addition, Komine was selected in the 19th round by St. Louis, but he decided to return for his senior year.

In 2000, the Huskers led the nation with a 3.14 ERA, the lowest total by an NU staff since 1984. It marked the fi rst time in school history that Nebraska led the nation in any team category. The Huskers also topped the Big 12 in runs allowed, shutouts, walks and innings pitched. In addition to setting a then-school record with 484 strikeouts, NU hurlers issued just 167 walks, establishing a school record for fewest walks allowed per game (2.46), breaking a record that had stood for 35 years. Komine, a fi nalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, earned consensus fi rst-team All-America honors by going 11-4 with a 2.24 ERA and a school-record 159 strikeouts. In addition to Komine, Jamie Rodrigue earned fi rst-team Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball, while Trevor Bullock ranked eighth nationally with a 2.13 ERA.

In 1999, the Huskers posted a 5.50 ERA, the lowest NU mark since 1994 at the time, and struck out a then-school-record 438 batters in 526.2 innings of action. Komine capped an impressive rookie campaign by earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America and Big 12 Freshman-of-the-Year honors. Chad Wiles was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and was named Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Week after throwing a one-hitter in a win over Oklahoma State in the fi rst round of the Big 12 Tournament and earning the save in the title game, leading the Huskers to their fi rst conference title since 1950.

Despite joining the staff 34 days before the 1998 season opener, Childress’ impact was immediate, as Husker pitchers allowed just 236 earned runs, the fewest in seven years, and lowered the team ERA by nearly a run per game.

In his fi nal season as the pitching coach at Northwestern State in 1997, Childress’ staff had a 4.20 ERA and held opponents to a .268 batting average. He coached current San Diego Padre Brian Lawrence, who became the fi rst Demon baseball player to reach the major leagues since 1954. In 1996, the Demons’ staff owned a 4.66 ERA and held opponents to a .259 batting average. At Northwestern State, Childress handled the pitching coach duties, and was also responsible for recruiting, fi eld maintenance, fund-raising, academic advisement and coordinating camps.

Childress and Van Horn fi rst teamed up at Texarkana College during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. During that span, the Bulldogs were 93-22, winning the league title in 1991. Following the two seasons as an assistant at Texarkana, Childress was an assistant coach at his alma mater Northwood University. In 1994, he returned to Texarkana as the head coach and fi nished with an impressive 43-10 record in his only season as coach.

Before his coaching career, Childress, who graduated from Harmony High School in Gilmer, Texas, attended Northwood where he was twice named an all-conference pitcher. Northwood won two NAIA conference championships during his career and was runner-up at the regional tournament once. Childress was elected the school’s Academic Athlete of the Year as a sophomore and senior. Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Childress coached the Texarkana Mavericks to a 31-10 record in summer league play in 1991.

Childress graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1990 and earned a master’s degree of science from East Texas State in 1994. He and his wife Amanda have a daughter, Hannah, who is seven, and Maxwell, who was born in 2003.

R.D. Spiehs led the Huskers to a Big 12 Tournament title in 2001.

Two-time All-American Shane Komine holds NU records for wins and strikeouts.

Jamie Rodrigue set a Big 12 record with six career shutouts from 2000 to 2003.

Thom Ott set single-season (11) and career saves (17) records from 2000 and 2001.

Associate Head Coach Rob Childress



Andy Sawyers begins his second season as an assistant coach in the Nebraska baseball program. A former player and volunteer assistant, he returned to the Husker program in 2003 after serving as head coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College for two seasons.

Sawyers works with the Husker program in several capacities, helping with the hitters, pitchers and catchers. Off the fi eld, he assists Associate Head Coach Rob Childress with recruiting and serves as academic coordinator.

Sawyers’ contributions were instrumental in Nebraska’s second Big 12 regular-season title in three years and a top-15 national ranking in all three polls. Matt Hopper and Curtis Ledbetter earned fi rst-team All-Big 12 honors, as seven hitters earned all-conference recognition.

Off the fi eld, Sawyers helped Nebraska recruit another class of newcomers that was ranked among the nation’s best according to Collegiate Baseball. The Husker program also enjoyed its fi nest year ever in the classroom. Jeff Leise, who was selected as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year, and Aaron Marsden were both named fi rst-team CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, while six players were fi rst-team academic All-Big 12 selections. During the spring semester, 20 of 39 players carried 3.0 or better grade-point averages.

During Sawyers’ tenure at Hutchinson Community College, the Dragons went a combined 87-30, reaching the postseason in both of his seasons as head coach.

In 2001, the program went 40-16 and won the Jayhawk West Sub-Regional. In 2002, Hutchinson set a school record with 47 wins and was ranked as high as seventh nationally by the NJCAA. In all, 14 of his players earned all-conference recognition, including a fi rst-team All-American, and two Dragons have been drafted, including Aaron Marsden, who transferred to Nebraska and earned fi rst-team All-Big 12 and conference newcomer-of-the-year honors in 2002.

Before joining the Dragon staff, Sawyers served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Huskers during the 2000 season, helping Nebraska to a school-record 51 wins and the fi rst NCAA Regional title in school history. Sawyers primarily worked with the catchers and hitters, as Justin Cowan was tabbed a third-team All-American and was a fi nalist for the Johnny Bench Award, presented to the nation’s outstanding collegiate catcher.

Sawyers began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Northwestern (La.) State during the 1999 season, helping the Demons to a 38-21 record. He served as the catchers’ coach, and both of his players earned All-Southland Conference honors. Northwestern State set fi ve single-season school records, including most hits and runs scored in a season.

A native of Willits, Calif., Sawyers played at Nebraska for two seasons (1997-98) after beginning his collegiate career at Point Loma Nazarene and Mendocino Junior College. While in the Husker program, he started 76 contests behind the plate, including 59 contests in 1997, when he batted .268. As a senior, Sawyers committed one error in 114 chances and batted .385 in conference play. Sawyers also set an NCAA and Big 12 record with four sacrifi ce bunts against Kansas State on April 4, 1998.

Sawyers, who was born on May 24, 1975, received both his bachelor’s (1998) and master’s (2000) degrees from the University of Nebraska. He is married to the former Dena Lindeblad.

Assistant Coach Andy Sawyers

Dena and Andy Sawyers.

Sawyers at a GlanceCoaching ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska, Assistant Coach 2002-presentHutchinson (Kan.) Community College, Head Coach 2000-02University of Nebraska, Volunteer Assistant Coach 2000Kearney (Mo.) River Bandits (M.I.N.K. League), Head Coach 1999Northwestern (La.) State Univ., Volunteer Assistant Coach 1999

Playing ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska 1997-98Mendocino (Calif.) Junior College, 1996 Point Loma (Calif.) Nazarene College 1994

Personal InformationDate of Birth: May 24, 1975; Alma Mater: University of Nebraska, 1998; Graduate Degree: Nebraska, 2000; Wife: Dena



Brandt Vlieger (pronounced VLEE-ger) begins his second year as the Huskers’ volunteer coach. In Vlieger’s capacity, he oversees NU’s infi elders and assists with the hitters.

Last season, the Huskers ranked second in the Big 12 with a .969 fi elding percentage, while all four infi elders (Matt Hopper, Jake Mullinax, Joe Simokaitis and Alex Gordon) were All-Big 12 honorees. Hopper, a second-team All-American, was chosen as the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Gordon was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.

Before returning to NU, Vlieger served as an assistant coach at Lincoln Northeast High School in 2002, helping the Rockets to an 18-8 record. Vlieger served as a student assistant coach for the Huskers in 2001, helping with hitters and outfi elders.

NU fi nished the year with a 50-16 record, sweeping both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, and qualifying for the school’s fi rst College World Series appearance.

Under his tutelage, John Cole earned fi rst-team All-America honors and was a fi fth-round selection by the Seattle Mariners, while Adam Stern was chosen in the third round by the Atlanta Braves.

A two-year starter, Vlieger started 124 games during his Husker career, helping NU to two Big 12 Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior in 2000, he started a team-high 67 contests, leading the Huskers to a school-record 51 wins and their fi rst regional title. A co-captain and second-team academic All-Big 12 selection, Vlieger batted .285 with eight homers and 48 RBIs. As a junior, he batted .348, ranking among team leaders in both hits (72) and stolen bases (16).

A transfer from Grayson County (Texas) Community College, he hit over .350 each season and played in the 1998 Junior College World Series. Vlieger batted .365 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs to earn fi rst-team all-region honors in 1998.

A native of Omaha, Vlieger graduated from Millard North High School, earning all-state honors at shortstop as a senior in 1996. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska in May of 2002, and is married to the former Kaci Cloyd.

One of the fi nest players in school history, Will Bolt begins his fi rst season as the Huskers’ graduate manager. In his new role, Bolt will assist the Husker coaching staff in on-fi eld duties, including helping with batting practice and bullpen catching while overseeing the undergraduate managers and helping with team video. He also assists in on-campus recruiting and performs other administrative tasks, helping in the day-to-day operations of the program.

He played an instrumental role in the success of the Husker program, leading the Big Red to four NCAA appearances, three Super Regionals and back-to-back College World Series appearances. A four-year starter and two-year captain, Bolt fi nished his career holding six school records (games played, games started, at-bats, hits, doubles and fi elding assists) and ranked among the school’s top 10 in several other categories. He fi nished his career with a .305 average, 11 homers and 142 RBIs in 251 career games.

As a senior, Bolt batted .319 with 29 RBIs and 46 runs scored in helping the Huskers to a 47-21 record and a CWS appearance. During his junior campaign, he batted .265 with 30 RBIs, as he played both second and shortstop. Bolt’s contributions helped NU to 50 wins, Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and the Huskers’ fi rst trip to the CWS. As a sophomore, Bolt was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 honoree and was the Minneapolis Regional’s Most Outstanding Player, hitting .545 in three games to help NU win its fi rst regional in school history. Bolt was a starter as freshman, as the Huskers won the Big 12 Tournament title and qualifi ed for their fi rst NCAA Regional appearance since 1985.

Bolt was a two-time academic All-Big 12 honoree at NU and graduated in 2003 with a degree in communication studies.

Vlieger at a GlanceCoaching ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska, Volunteer Coach 2003-presentLincoln Northeast High School, Assistant Coach 2002University of Nebraska, Student Asst. Coach 2001

Playing ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska 1999-2000Grayson County (Texas) Community College 1998-99

Personal InformationDate of Birth: Jan. 13, 1978; Alma Mater: University of Nebraska, 2002; Wife: Kaci

Bolt at a GlanceCoaching ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska, Graduate Manager 2004-present

Playing ExperienceUniversity of Nebraska 1999-2002

Personal InformationDate of Birth: Nov. 1, 1979; Alma Mater: University of Nebraska, 2003

Will Bolt helped NU to back-to-back CWS appearances in 2001 and 2002.

Brandt and Kaci Vlieger.

Coaching & Support Staff



Mike Arthur was promoted to director of athletic performance in June of 2003. He oversees the supervision of 22 Nebraska sports and coordinates all workouts for the baseball program. Previously, Arthur was the associate director of athletic performance, coordinating workout programs for every sport. Arthur's 27 years at Nebraska have produced many advances in the strength programs used by athletes around the nation. His research helps Nebraska stay on the cutting edge, allowing Husker student-athletes to further develop their skills and talents. Arthur was named to the U.S. Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame in June 2003 and earned the distinction of Master Strength and Conditioning Coach - one of only 10 in the nation - by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association in 2001.

Arthur is from Lincoln and earned his B.S. degree from UNL in 1978. He is married to the former Reena Fountain, and they have two daughters, Tara, 23, and Rachel, 9, and a son, John, 10.

Dan Bergstrom is in his fourth year as head groundskeeper of Haymarket Park, overseeing the maintenance of the baseball and softball fi elds, as well as the landscaping efforts of the 33-acre complex. He is in charge of a three-person staff that includes assistants Jennifer Roeber and Geoff Humphrey.

In 2003, Hawks Field was chosen as the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Baseball Field of the Year in the College/University Division and was selected as the best playing surface in the Northern League by a vote of the league’s coaches for the third straight season. Bergstrom came to Lincoln after spending fi ve years at the University of Kentucky, where he maintained all varsity athletic fi elds. In 1999, UK’s Cliff Hagan Stadium won the STMA College Diamond-of-the-Year award for best collegiate baseball fi eld. Before working at UK, he spent two years with the Cleveland Browns.

A 1995 graduate of Iowa State University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in horticulture and turf management, Bergstrom is married to the former Krista Golas.

Katie Jewell is in her third year as academic counselor/coordinator of new student programs and her fi fth year with the Husker academic performance team. Jewell coordinates academic support for the baseball, bowling, men’s and women’s gymnastics and wrestling teams. She oversees the computer lab in the Hewit Academic Center, coordinates New Student Enrollment and other programs for new student-athletes, and assists staff in monitoring changes in NCAA academic legislation. Jewell worked as an academic graduate assistant at Texas A&M for one year. Under Jewell, Nebraska has had four academic all-Americans in baseball, including two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American-of-the-Year Jeff Leise, and a total of nine fi rst-team academic All-Big 12 honorees.

A native of Hastings, Neb., Jewell earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary engineering from Nebraska in 1998, and her master’s degree from Texas A&M in 1999.

Renee Brinkmann is in her 17th year as the Husker baseball secretary and offi ce manager. Brinkmann coordinates all team travel plans, serves as the main contact for the Nebraska Baseball School and had previously served as secretary for the Husker Home Run Club, the Husker baseball program’s booster organization, and began the Husker Junior Home Run Club in 1999.

A graduate of Ponca (Neb.) High School, she earned her associate degree from the Lincoln School of Commerce in 1983. Renee is married to Curt Brinkmann.

Josh Cohen is in his fi rst year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Nebraska. He serves as head athletic trainer for the Husker baseball program and assists with the Husker football program. Before landing in Lincoln, Cohen was an intern with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He has also served for six years as an emergency medical technician in Northeastern New Jersey.

Originally from Old Tappan, N.J., Cohen earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and psychology from William & Mary in 2003. Cohen is currently working toward his master’s degree in educational administration at Nebraska.

Mike Mason is his 10th year as assistant equipment manager and 15th year with the Nebraska athletic department. A 1993 graduate of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, Mason was hired full-time in August of 1994, after serving the previous fi ve years as a student equipment manager. Mason is responsible for the care of football and baseball equipment and maintenance of the locker rooms in both Schulte Fieldhouse and Haymarket Park. Mason received certifi cation from the Athletic Equipment Managers Association in 2000.

He is married to the former Dionne Walentine and has a stepson, Dillon, 10, a daughter, Michaela, 5, and a son, Justin, 3.

Baseball Support Staff


Shamus McKnight is in his seventh year with the Nebraska athletic department and his fi fth as an assistant sports information director. He is responsible for the maintenance of the athletic department’s website, Huskers.com, and also handles all publicity for the Husker baseball and bowling programs. In both 2001 and 2002, his baseball media guide fi nished second nationally in judging by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Before joining the NU staff full-time, McKnight served as the NU sports information offi ce intern for two years and handled media relations for men’s and women’s gymnastics and assisted with football duties. A 1996 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) College, he also served stints at Central Connecticut State University and the U.S. Senior Golf Open before joining the NU staff in the fall of 1997.

Jerry AndersenHuskersNside

Producer

John AndersonAssistant A.D. /

Director of Ticket Marketing

Taylor AndersonBat Boy

Scott BruhnSports Information

Photographer

Craig EstudilloPublic Address

Announcer

Anthony GalvinStudent Manager

David GraffSID Student Asst. /Press

Box Operations

James HarrisCoordinator of Sports

Nutrition

Butch HugAssistant A.D. /Events

John KeiferLevy Restaurants

Ryan LockhartStadium Operations

Eric MuffComputing Services

Eric PulverentiHuskerVision

Larry PunteneyHusker Baseball

Show Host

Jason RatheMarketing and

Promotions

Rob StemmHuskerVision

Michael StephensDirector of

Corporate Sales

Tyler WerthStudent Trainer

Baseball Support Staff

Shane Miller is in his second season working with the Husker baseball program. In his role, he assists Director of Athletic Performance Mike Arthur in designing and implementing baseball specifi c strength training and conditioning programs, Miller is a Certifi ed Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) and Strength and Conditioning Collegiate Certifi ed (CSCCa) In 2003, pitcher Aaron Marsden was named Husker Power Athlete of the Year, becoming the fi rst baseball player to win the award in the 25-year history of the Husker Power program. Miller, who also served an internship at the University of Colorado, is a 2002 graduate of Liberty (Va.) University, where he played Division I baseball for two seasons.



L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D.President, Univ. of Ne bras ka

Don S. Blank, D.D.S.McCook

Randy Ferlic, M.D.Omaha

Chuck HassebrookLyons

Howard HawksOmaha

Drew Miller, Ph.D.Papillion

Kent Schroeder, J.D.Kearney

Charles S. Wilson, M.D.Lincoln

Jonathan CroskeyUN-Omaha

Michelle McGeorgeUN-Kearney

Kyle ArganbrightUN-Lincoln

Ryan ArnoldUN-Medical Center

Jim McClurg, Ph.D.Lincoln

Univ. of Nebraska Board of Regents



Harvey Perlman was named the 19th Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 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 (1983-98), 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, a post he held until 1998 when he returned to the professoriate. He has also served as a visiting professor at the Florida State University College of Law, the University of Puget Sound School of Law and the University of Iowa College of Law.

His area of legal expertise lies in torts and intellectual property. He is a member of the Nebraska State and American Bar Associations. He is a member of the Council of the American Law Institute. He

is a commissioner of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He is co-author of Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition (5th edition, 1998) and co-reporter for the Restatement of Unfair Competition (1994). In February 2002, Perlman was named a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Fellow status denotes an individual who has demonstrated out stand ing 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 and currently chairs the Nebraska Bioethics Advisory Panel. He is also a member of the Nebraska State Fair Board and the Bowl Championship Series Presidential Oversight Com mit tee.

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 Nebraska in May 2002, attends law school at UNL. He and Susan enjoy the company of two grandchildren, Will and Ava.

Nebraska's Chancellors1871-1876 — Allen R. Benton 1876-1882 — Edmund B. Farfi eld 1884-1889 — Irvin J. Manatt1891-1895 — James H. Canfi eld 1895-1899 — George E. MacLean 1900-1908 — E. Benjamin Andrews1908-1927 — Samuel Avery1927-1938 — E.A. Burnett1938-1946 — Chauncey S. Boucher1947-1953 — R.G. Gustavson1953-1954 — John K. Selleck1954-1968 — Clifford Hardin1968-1971 — Joesph Soshnik1972-1975 — James H. Zumberge1975-1976 — Adam C. Breckenridge1976-1980 — Roy A. Young1980-1981 — Robert H. Rutford1981-1991 — Martin A. Massengale1991-1991 — Jack Goebel1991-1995 — Graham B. Spanier1995-1996 — Joan R. Leitzel*1996-2000 — James Moeser2000-2001 — Harvey S. Perlman*2001-present — Harvey S. Perlman

* Interim Chancellor

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.

Potuto was appointed in January 2003, 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 in her fi fth year as a member of the Division I Committee on Infractions (COI). The COI meets six times annually to conduct hearings, make fi ndings of culpability and impose sanctions on institutions for violations of NCAA bylaws. Potuto also serves on a committee of the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association that reviews NCAA legislation and tracks the NCAA governance structure.

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 also served as the Division I representative on the executive committee. In 2002, Potuto was named Outstanding Faculty Athletics Representative by the All-American Football Foundation.

Potuto is an expert on issues related to gender equity in collegiate sports. 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 offi cio member of the academic senate’s intercollegiate athletics committee and of the subcommittee to evaluate academic support services. She was vice chairwoman of the rules governance committee of NU’s NCAA site certifi cation committee, and she chairs the athletic department’s NCAA Legislation 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 offi ce. She also spent fi ve summers working in the prosecutor’s offi ce 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.

Nebraska's Faculty Reps1931-1946 — T.J. Thompson 1947-1958 — Earl Fullbrook1959-1964 — Charles S. Miller1965-1968 — Merk Hobson1969-1970 — John R. Davis1971-1982 — Keith L. Broman1982-1997 — James O'Hanlon1997-present — Josephine Potuto

University Administration



University of Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson with his family (from left): Kristin, Steve, Tami, Mark and Kari.

Pederson at a GlanceHonorsNational Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame General Robert R. Neyland Athletic Director Award 2002

ExperienceNebraska Athletic Director 2003-presentPittsburgh Athletic Director 1996-2002Nebraska Associate Athletic Director/Foot ball Operations 1994-96Tennessee Associate Athletic Director for Foot ball Operations 1993-94Tennessee Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting 1992-93Tennessee Recruiting Coordinator 1991-92Ohio State Recruiting Coordinator 1988-91Private Business, Nebraska 1986-88Nebraska Recruiting Coordinator/Administrative Assistant 1982-86Ak-Sar-Ben Director of Public Relations 1981-82Nebraska Sports Information Assistant 1980-81

Committee WorkChairman of Big East Conference Executive Committee 2002Big East Conference Representative to NCAA Football Issues Committee 2002National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame District Screening Committee 2001-presentCo-Chairman of the Panther Leukemia Golf Open 1997-99Co-Chairman of the United Way’s Day of Caring for Allegheny County 2001

Personal InformationDate of Birth: Oct. 24, 1957; Alma Mater: Nebraska, 1980; Wife: Tami; Daughters: Kristin and Kari; Son: Mark

Tradition, Teamwork, Integrity. Those are the values Nebraskans have long adhered to, and those are the values that Athletic Director Steve Pederson, a native Nebraskan, has instilled in his staff.

“Our athletic staff will work harder than anyone else in college athletics to achieve the high goals that we set,” Pederson said. “And every day our coaches, staff and student-athletes will operate with the three established Nebraska values in mind. We will strive for the success that our Tradition has established; we will maximize Teamwork on every level to establish our goals; and we will operate with utmost Integrity.”

Pederson has been sounding the rallying cry for fans and promoting his Huskers across the state since Dec. 20, 2002, when Chancellor Harvey Perlman named Pederson as the University’s 12th athletic director and just the third since 1967.

Perlman said Pederson and Nebraska were “a perfect match” and indeed they are.

In just one year at the helm, Pederson streamlined the athletic staff and budget, and lowered ticket prices. He declared the 2003-04 season the “Year of the Fan,” and has made it clear that preserving Husker traditions and uniting Nebraska’s fans with its programs are crucial elements to the success of the department.

Pederson, 46, has hit the ground running and in addition to the summer Husker Nation Tour, where football coaches, players and staff blanketed the state in one day, Pederson has made many stops on his own. He has been embraced and welcomed home with open arms and has called Husker fans to action. “I make a pledge to you. With your united support behind this program, 1.7 million and more playing as one, those who want to take on the Huskers better bring their A games,” Pederson said. His fi rst effort at uniting former Huskers resulted in the largest Husker football player reunion, when more than 800 letterwinners took part in weekend celebrations before the fi rst football game. He created the Husker Nation Pavilion for football fans to enjoy a family-friendly fan-fest atmosphere before football games and also created the Husker Nation mark and theme. To make tickets more accessible to the average Husker fan, Pederson has made football single-game tickets available each week in an online pool. Pederson operates at a fast pace with a relentless dedication. A leader of drive and initiative, his goal is to plan for long-term success. In November, Pederson unveiled his new facility plan, the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex, which will keep the Huskers at the forefront of all Division I programs. Pederson has not limited his attention to issues surrounding football. He has rolled up his sleeves and gone to work to make things better in each and every Husker venue for fans and student-athletes. He hired Executive Associate Athletic Director Marc Boehm from Pittsburgh to integrate the Husker marketing, development, sponsorship, advertising and ticket operations and to focus on basketball. Together the athletic staff put together an aggressive marketing plan for basketball that includes a $99 season package for men’s hoops. In addition, a new seating area on the sideline gives Husker fans a front-row seat to view the action. He has lowered ticket prices and has addressed a wide variety of issues, such as fan amenities and necessities as well as game atmosphere. He has made a detailed list and is intent on crossing off every item. Pederson even put the offi cial team mascot on a training regimen. Herbie Husker went through summer conditioning and the new and improved, yet very familiar, Herbie made his debut for the football season opener. Although Pederson has been back home just one year, his staff has already turned it up a notch. In the span of six weeks last spring, NU successfully hosted fi ve NCAA events, including the 2003 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championships, and baseball, softball and women’s golf regional, and the fi rst-

ever outdoor track and fi eld regional. Nebraska’s teams have responded to Pederson’s energy and enthusiasm with great success. Thirteen of Nebraska’s 23 varsity sports fi nished among the national top 25, including men’s and women’s track and fi eld, women’s golf, women’s gymnastics, baseball and softball during the spring semester. A fi rm believer in the philosophy that hard work pays off, Pederson was given his fi rst chance at leading a Division I program when he was selected as athletic director at the University of Pittsburgh in 1996. A young and relatively unknown commodity, in just six years, Pederson put the Panthers back on the map. Pederson is credited with turning around the University of Pittsburgh athletic program and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dubbed Pittsburgh “Comeback U.” As a result of his hard work and contagious leadership style, Pederson 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. In addition to establishing a contagious winning attitude, he helped construct several new facilities at Pittsburgh. Pederson helped shape the vision of the Petersen Events Center, a state-of-the-art convocation center that provided Pittsburgh with one of the fi nest college basketball arenas in the country as well as new recreational facilities for students. Because of Pederson’s efforts, the Panther football team was blessed with the Duratz Athletic Complex and UPMC Sports Performance Complex, a practice venue that opened in 2000. In 2001, the Panthers debuted Heinz Field, a new facility the football team shared with the Steelers. Additionally, Pederson oversaw a major renovation of Fitzgerald Field House,

Athletic Administration



giving Pittsburgh’s Olympic sports programs updated locker and training facilities. Trees Field also underwent major upgrades to assist the Panthers’ baseball and softball programs and a new softball fi eld made its debut in 2003. While Pittsburgh’s athletic infrastructure grew stronger under Pederson, so too did his staff. During his tenure at Pittsburgh, Pederson hired Big East Coach-of-the-Year honorees in football (Walt Harris) and men’s basketball (Ben Howland). Pederson said his philosophy is to surround himself with good people. “The thing I am most proud of is that I hire great people and let them do their jobs. That is the only thing I would ever take credit for.” Harris led the football team to three straight bowl appearances, including two victories, while Howland led the men’s basketball team to back-to-back Sweet 16 berths. With the dramatic turnaround, Howland was a consensus national coach of the year in 2001. Swimming and diving continued its Big East dominance. Baseball won 36 games, the program’s most victories in nearly a decade and other programs made strides up the competitive ladder. Pederson’s efforts always have the interests of the student-athletes in mind. He has implemented support programs aimed at a student-athlete’s academic, athletic, personal and professional development. At Nebraska, Pederson helped negotiate the fi rst football contract with adidas in 1995 and in 2001, he negotiated a comprehensive apparel partnership for Pittsburgh with Aeropostale. Additionally, Pederson knows what it takes to be successful in the competitive athletic marketing realm. At Pittsburgh, he enlisted the talents of Peter Moore, one of the world’s top fi gures in sports marketing and image, to create the Pittsburgh Panther logo and color schemes. He is also responsible for creating the Husker Nation logo and theme to commemorate the Year of the Fan. 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 said his love of Nebraska has never wavered. “There are a few very special places in the world of college athletics. The University of Nebraska is at the top of that list. Nebraskans want and expect to be the very best.” Pederson and his wife Tami, both earned degrees from the University of Nebraska. Steve earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1980 and began his career at Nebraska, fi rst as a sports information assistant (1980-81) and then as football recruiting coordinator (1982 to 1986). He later returned as the associate athletic director for football operations (1994 to 1996). As the Husker Associate A.D. for football, Pederson oversaw the refurbishment of the football administrative offi ces, and 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 defi nitive 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, and the 1994 class was tabbed as the best in the country 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 the spring of 1993. Pederson has been active on several committees. He is currently a member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame District Screening Committee. While at Pittsburgh, he served as the chairman of the Big East Conference Executive Committee and additionally served as the Big East representative to the NCAA’s Football Issues Committee. 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 and his wife Tami Osborne Pederson have three children: Mark (20), Kari (18) and Kristin (14). Tami earned a bachelor’s of music education degree and a master’s of music degree from the University of Nebraska. She is a violinist with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and teaches violin at Nebraska Wesleyan University. She has performed with professional orchestras and string quartets in Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania and has taught at Capital University and the University of Tennessee. She was the founder and director of the Fox Chapel Suzuki Violinists.

Marc Boehm is in his fi rst year with the Huskers after being hired in May to serve as Executive Associate Athletic Director. Boehm serves as the top assistant to the athletic director and fulfi lls the director's responsibilities in his absence.

Boehm has administrative oversight of the Husker men’s and women’s basketball programs and directs the efforts of the development, licensing and ticket offi ces. He also provides guidance to HuskerVision and NU's internet presence, Huskers.com, and assists the athletic director on special projects.

The 41-year old Boehm held the same position under Steve Pederson at Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2003. With the Panthers, Boehm helped assist in the rise of the basketball program, with the men's team posting back-to-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 fi ve months before coming to Nebraska. During that time, he hired new men's and women's basketball and soccer head coaches for the Panther program.

Boehm spent fi ve 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. Married to Janelle Broderick of Minot, N.D., the couple has three boys, Broderick (11), Christian (10) and Lukas John (3).

Marc Boehm (left) and Steve Pederson (right) have teamed together for seven years.

Athletic Administration



Holly AdamAssistant Director

of Ticket Op er a tions

Jeff AbeleDir. of Internet

Oper. /Publications

Dr. Lonnie AlbersDirector of

Athletic Med i cine

Chris AndersonAssociate A.D.,

Sports Info. Director

Alvin BanksAcademic Coun se lor

Gary BargenDirector of

Compliance

Jon BarnettHuskerVision

Chief Engineer

Jaclyn BaxaTicket Office

Assistant

Steve BeckHuman Resources

Manager

Theresa BeckerAssistant Director

of Compliance

Vera BranchHead Cheerleading/Dance Team Coach

Jan BrownAccounting Manager

Bob BurtonSenior AssociateAthletic Director

Courtney CarterWest Stadium

Strength Coach

Tim CassidyAssociate Athletic

Director for Football

Dr. Pat ClareChief of Staff,

Orthopedic Surgeon

Heidi CucaAssistant A.D. for

Gameday Marketing

Tom DufresneAssistant Athletic

Trainer

Dr. Robert DugasTeam Orthopedist

Rodger DeGarmoDevaney Center Strength Coach

Boyd EpleyAssoc. A.D. for

Athletic Performance & Facility Development

Jose FonsecaAssistant Athletic

Trainer

Chuck FordBuilding and Grounds

Supervisor

Judy FosterTicket Office

Assistant

Tommie FrazierAssistant Director of

Development

Derek FreemanBusiness Systems

Specialist

Michelle GloverHuskerVision

Production Coordinator

Randy GobelAsst. Dir. of Athletic

Performance and Facility

Development

Athletic Staff

Brad BrownAssistant Athletic

Trainer

Derek ClarkAsst. Athletic Trainer for Reconditioning



Athletic Staff

Jeff GrieschAssistant Sports

Information Director

Kirk HartmanHuskerVision

Creative Director

Dr. Tom HeiserTeam Physician,

Orthopedist

Kevin HerbelFinancial Data

Specialist

Dr. Barbara HibnerAssoc. A.D., Senior

Woman Administrator

John IngramDirector

of Facilities

Nancy KennyAssoc. A.D., ChiefFinancial Officer

Shot KleenHuskerVision

Operations Director

Jami KubikSenior Accountant

Dennis LeblancAssoc. A.D., Academic

Programs/Services

Pat LogsdonDirector of Athletic

Administration

Diane MendenhallAssociate Director

of Development

Paul MeyersAssistant A.D. for

Athletic Development

Joel MichelsEvent Management

Specialist

Paul MilesAssociate A.D. /

Corporate Marketing

Amanda MonterastelliAssistant Athletic

Trainer

Doak OstergardAssociate

Head Trainer

Kristi ReetzTicket Office

Assistant

Kim SchellpeperAcademic Counselor

Shannon ShermanAssistant Sports


Dr. Scott StrasburgerTeam Physician,

Orthopedic Surgeon

Jay TerryEquipment Manager

Jerry TrickieAssistant Sports


Karen UnderwoodSkybox Director

Chad WadeAssistant Strength

Coach

Jerry WeberHead Trainer

Ervin WilliamsEvent Management

Specialist

Dave KennedyHead Football

Strength Coach

Keith MannAssociate Sports


Keith ZimmerAssoc. Dir. of

Academic & Student Services

Head Coach Mike Anderson - Huskers · 2004 Nebraska Baseball Recruiting and Media Guide 18 19 2004...

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Transcript of Head Coach Mike Anderson - Huskers · 2004 Nebraska Baseball Recruiting and Media Guide 18 19 2004...