OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 14, 2025) – Omaha Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell announced Tuesday promotions for several members of his cabinet and senior staff.
"Our success as an athletic department is driven by the talented people who lead every day behind the scenes," said Dowell. "These promotions reflect our continued commitment to growing Omaha Athletics, enhancing the holistic experience we provide for our student-athletes and positioning our department for sustained success in a new era of college athletics. I'm proud of this group's leadership and our entire staff for the impact they make on our campus and in the community."
Matt Maher transitions from Executive Associate Athletic Director – Internal Affairs to Senior Deputy Athletic Director. An Omaha native, Maher serves as Omaha Athletics' Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for strategic planning, oversees the sport administrators and directly serves as the sport administrator for men's basketball, men's ice hockey and women's volleyball. Internally, Maher also oversees the athletic business, human resources, equipment/apparel, legal, IT, NIL and facilities and operations units, a staff of 50 full-time employees and more than 250 part-timers. In his second stint with the Mavericks, Maher has negotiated numerous contracts on behalf of Omaha Athletics which have resulted in millions of dollars in revenue and savings for the institution including: adidas, BSN Sports, CCM, Coca-Cola, Daktronics, Opendorse, SAVOR and Ticketmaster.
Lindsey Ekwerekwu has been named Deputy Athletic Director / Senior Woman Administrator after most recently serving as Executive Associate Athletic Director – Student-Athlete Success / SWA. The Chief Academic Officer for Omaha Athletics, Ekwerekwu collaborates with campus officials to foster collaboration, communication and positive relationships across campus while also supporting Maverick student-athletes' holistic development. She serves as the liaison for the Division of Student Life, including Campus Recreation and Student Conduct and is the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletic Equity. Ekwerekwu oversees the student-athlete success vertical, inclusive of academics and student-athlete development, sports performance and holistic development. Ekwerekwu serves as the sport administrator for the women's basketball, cross country/track and field and men's and women's swimming and diving teams.
Camden Stockton, who joined the department in May 2025, has been elevated from Senior Associate Athletic Director – External Affairs to Executive Associate Athletic Director – External Affairs. Stockton holds macro-oversight over the external affairs unit, including communications, community relations, creative services, game presentation/video production, sports marketing, ticketing operations and liaises with the athletics development office, Omaha Sports Properties (LEARFIELD) and NIL partners. Stockton was instrumental in bringing Taymar Sales U to Omaha Athletics and Baxter Arena.
Dr. Taryn Ninemire, Senior Associate Athletic Director – Athletic Performance, has been elevated to Executive Associate Athletic Director – Athletic Performance. In this role, Ninemire oversees all aspects of sports medicine care, athletic training, strength performance, nutrition, sports psychology, sports science and drug testing for Maverick student-athletes. Ninemire serves as Omaha's Athletics Health Care Administrator and the department's physical therapist. Within the last four years, Omaha's athletic performance operation has emerged an industry leader in innovative holistic student-athlete support with a comprehensive medical and team physician partnership with OrthoNebraska, establishment and integration of sport psychology, mental health and sports nutrition support operations and a nutritional training table program for all female student-athletes and sport programs.
Ethan Anderson has been elevated from Assistant to Associate Athletic Director – Event Management. Anderson, a second-generation UNO graduate and former baseball player, is responsible for event management, scheduling and facilities operations while also serving as the sport administrator for the Omaha baseball and softball programs. His father Gary was the sports information director at Omaha and Anderson volunteered in athletic communications for more than 13 years.
Billy Sanders moves from Head of Equipment Services and Brand Management to Assistant Athletic Director - Equipment Services and Brand Management. A member of the athletic department staff since 2008, Sanders activates Omaha's contracts with adidas, BSN SPORTS and CCM, outfitting all 16 sport programs. Sanders' family has a long-standing presence at UNO as his grandmother Bev served as the department's equipment manager from 1978-01. Sanders also manages Omaha's licensing program with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) and the use of Omaha Athletics' registered marks worldwide. 2024-25 marked the second-highest revenue total all-time for Omaha royalties. Sanders also recently deployed the department's first Sideline Gear Store, facilitated by BSN SPORTS.
Abbey Henrichs, the University's Director of Events, adds Assistant Athletic Director – External Operations to her duties playing an elevated role in the department's daily external operations. Henrichs was instrumental in organizing activations surrounding men's basketball's first-ever March Madness appearance, leading logistics and execution for the NCAA Men's Selection Show watch party, Maverick Send-Off and on-site events in Providence, R.I. Henrichs also took the reins of the annual Chesterman Coca-Cola Maverick Run-Walk, benefiting women's athletics. The event had nearly 1,000 participants. In addition to athletic-related duties, Henrichs organizes the University's winter and spring commencement ceremonies, among other major events, and recently orchestrated the inaugural OMA x AI conference.
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