Introducing Troy Dannen: The New Husker AD

Troy Dannen: The New Face of Husker Athletics

Before last month, most Husker fans didn’t know who Troy Dannen was. Was it a new flavor of yogurt? A new movie star? Nah. Of course, he’s the new Husker AD. Interim Husker president, Chris Kabourek wasted no time in signing #16’s successor.

Just one week to the day #16 left for the SEC, Troy Dannen was introduced as the new Husker AD. He is the ninth Husker AD since 1962. Dannen seems to be an excellent fit for Nebraska. He was raised on a farm outside Marshalltown, Iowa, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and later served as its AD.

In case Husker fans don’t know, Dannen came to Nebraska after a brief (5 month) stint at the University of Washington. He replaced Jennifer Cohen who left Washington to take the AD position at Southern California.

Prior to Washington, Dannen was the AD at Northern Iowa (2008-2015) and Tulane University (2015-2023). When he got to Tulane, Dannen inherited a struggling football program. Curtis Johnson’s teams had gone 15-34 over a four-year period at Tulane. After the ’15 season, Johnson was replaced by Willie Fritz. Fritz’s record in his 8 years at Tulane was 54-47. In his last two seasons with The Green Wave, his teams went 12-2 (beat USC in the Cotton Bowl) and the next year Tulane went 11-2.

And that’s what happened. Before the end of the ’23 season, Fritz took the head football coaching job at the University of Houston. Dannen needed a new head coach.

So he hired Jon Sumrall from Troy University. Sumrall won’t coach his first game at Tulane until this fall.

Did Fritz’s leaving Tulane have anything to do with Dannen’s move to UW? Did the departure of Washington’s head football coach Kalen DeBoer (to Alabama) influence Dannen’s decision to leave the Husky athletic program this year?

It’s probably much more than just two coaches leaving for greener pastures.

Here’s what Dannen said when he was introduced last October as the new Husky Athletic Director:

“I am so honored to have the opportunity to serve the University of Washington, our students, coaches, staff, faculty, and incredible fans. Throughout this process, the passion, love, and spirit of the UW was evident in every conversation, as was the alignment necessary for comprehensive success. We will compete for championships, and we will provide an unmatched experience for our student-athletes. The future has never been brighter for Husky Athletics, and I am humbled to steward the next chapter in our storied history.”

And here’s some of what he said when he was introduced as the new AD at Nebraska just five months later:

“Joining the Nebraska family is truly an honor. My family and I are humbled by the opportunity to be part of such a proud athletics program, institution, community, and state. Growing up in Iowa, I watched a lot of Nebraska football on Saturdays with my family. I’ve spent a lot of time in the state and I’ve found that we share a similar approach to life, work, and sports. Work hard, stay humble, compete and expect to win.”

“I look forward to doing my part to helping Nebraska win championships across the board, graduate our student-athletes, and elevate the world-class reputation of the University of Nebraska. I can’t wait to arrive in Lincoln and get to work.”

If the two statements sound familiar, they are. That’s completely understandable. This isn’t meant to be an indictment of Dannen. Coaches and ADs have to make positive comments in their introductions.

Nevertheless, Troy Dannen seemed to hit it out of the park during his introductory press conference in Lincoln.

In fact, his response to a question raised by former Husker offensive lineman, Mike Beran may have registered with many Nebraska fans. Beran, who has served as Vice President of the HFLA (Husker Football Letterman’s Association) asked Dannen if he planned to make former Husker football players feel more welcomed at UNL. Dannen’s answer was quick and to the point,

“This (honoring former players) is a big deal to me. We don’t own the program. (Pointing to Mike) You do. The players who played-the players who built it, own the program. We’re just renting it.”

“When (the current players) get their degree, they can claim ownership. But they’re renting and they’re working on the backs of those people who built this. But it has to be reiterated: Players need to know that those who came before them carved a path for success.”

Don’t ever forget it.

That’s a pretty classy comment. I will support Troy Dannen in any way I can.