Bob Danenhauer, the University of Nebraska at Omaha athletic director for the past seven years, resigned on Wednesday.
Danenhauer's resignation is effective November 1. He will become the coordinator of athletics and supervisor of physical education for the Omaha Public Schools system.
"I will always love my alma mater," Danenhauer said. "But you can never pick and choose when opportunities come up. I am looking to downsize my life and do what's best for me and my family."
Danenhauer became the UNO director of athletics on July 1, 1997, after nearly two years as the assistant athletic director. Under his leadership, the UNO athletic program has undergone a major facelift. Not only have programs been added which have increased the number of sports and participating student-athletes, but the facilities have undergone significant changes.
The Mavericks added Division I ice hockey, which began play in October of 1997 and has been one of the national leaders in attendance each season. Danenhauer was instrumental in helping the Mavericks attain membership in the prestigious Central Collegiate Hockey Association, which boasts such national powers as Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.
In his seven years as the mentor of the Nebraska-Omaha athletic program, UNO has won 15 North Central Conference championships and two national championships (softball, 2001 and wrestling, 2004), and finished in the top 15 nationally in nine sports (wrestling, volleyball, swimming and diving, football, soccer, softball, hockey, golf, and track and field).
"As UNO's athletic director, Bob Danenhauer guided the program's renaissance," UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck said. "He leaves the program strong, vital and well-prepared for future success."
Danenhauer played an integral role in the $6.6 million Sapp Fieldhouse expansion/renovation project, which began July 7, 1997, and was completed on September 18, 1998. The project added over 40,000 square feet and renovated the existing 71,664 square feet of space in the Fieldhouse.
Danenhauer was an all-North Central Conference defensive lineman with the Mavericks in 1980 and later went on to play for Seattle and Buffalo in the National Football League. After earning his degree at UNO in 1982, he was head wrestling coach at Millard North in 1985-88 and twice was named district coach of the year. He went on to become the head coach at Hays, Kan., High School from 1989-92 and earned a master's degree from Fort Hays State in 1993.
He was the athletic director and assistant principal at Omaha's Millard South High School in 1994-95. Danenhauer was one of the founders of the Maverick Beef Club in 1994 and served as the group's president until his appointment to UNO.
A native of Omaha, Danenhauer's father, Bill, was UNO's head football coach from 1975-77. Bob and his wife, Shelley, have two children, Bobby and Megan.
