Mike Kemp, the only head coach the University of Nebraska at Omaha's NCAA Division I hockey program has had in its nine years of existence, has signed a four-year contract, the school's athletic director, David Herbster said today.
The contract runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2010.
"I am happy to announce that Coach Kemp has signed a contract that will keep him at UNO as our head hockey coach for the next four years," Herbster said. "He has built a strong foundation for the program and one that we will continue to move forward with Mike at the helm."
Kemp guided the Mavericks to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance last month after a 20-15-6 season in which they tied for fourth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. He has a nine-year record of 144-171-37 and has led the Mavericks to the CCHA semifinals twice and the championship game once in the seven seasons UNO has been in the conference. He was the CCHA coach of the year in 2005 and three times has been a finalist for the national coach of the year award. The program has produced three All-Americans and six players who have performed in the National Hockey League.
The Mavericks in 2005 were the most improved team in college hockey. This season, UNO had the CCHA player of the year,
Scott Parse, and the league's scholar athlete of the year,
Mike Eickman. In 2001, the Mavericks' Jason Cupp won the Hockey Humanitarian Award.
"I am thrilled with the opportunity to continue the growth and development of this program that we started with it's inception in 1996," Kemp said. "We have experienced tremendous development in a short amount of time and I look forward to guiding the program to greater heights. I appreciate the confidence and support that David Herbster has shown in our staff and look forward to working with him to make Maverick Hockey the premier sporting event in the city."
UNO launched its Division I hockey program on May 1, 1996 and Kemp, who coached the school's club hockey program in 1974-75, was named head coach in June of 1996. UNO played its first game on October 17, 1997.
The 53-year-old Kemp is a native of Duluth, Minn., and a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. He spent 13 years as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin before coming to UNO.
