Keith Zimmer is in his 37th year at Nebraska, where he directs the Life Skills Department, serves as a Sport Administrator, and is a member of the Executive Staff. Zimmer provides direct sport oversight and supervision to Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Men’s & Women’s Tennis. He has represented Nebraska on various campus, conference, and NCAA committees.
After starting his Nebraska career in academic support, Zimmer pioneered Nebraska’s award winning Life Skills program which focuses on the total person development of all Husker student-athletes. Nebraska’s comprehensive Life Skills program provides required life skills education from day one through graduation, career development, leadership, and community service opportunities, ultimately preparing student-athletes for life after graduation.
Nebraska Life Skills offers four leadership groups in which nearly 175 student-athletes are selected annually to advance leadership skills, ensure student-athlete welfare, and improve marketability. Every Husker team has representation on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) which serves as the voice of the entire student-athlete population. Inner Circle is an emerging leadership development group with a focused annual curriculum whereas N-Volved is a social climate discussion group addressing cultural competency, inclusive excellence, mental health, and other critical topics. Husker Healers guides pre-health student-athletes in their journey to enhance marketability for admission into professional programs and health-related careers.
Community service continues to be a pillar of the Husker Life Skills department. In addition to team service projects and individual community requests, Life Skills directs Husker Heroes, the Nebraska Football Road Race benefitting pediatric brain cancer, School is Cool and American Education Week, local hospital visits, the annual Sportsmanship Pep Rally, holiday outreach, and Link-N-Leaders. Since 2015, Nebraska Life Skills has coordinated an annual international service trip allowing Huskers from all sports the opportunity for an impactful service trip beyond the borders. In 2024, the “No Filter” International Service trip expanded to two locations with one experience in May and the other in August.
Under Zimmer’s leadership, Nebraska’s one-of-a kind Post Eligibility Scholarship program was initiated providing $7,500 to Huskers who have lettered at Nebraska, graduated from Nebraska, and exhausted athletic eligibility at Nebraska. Graduates can use funds for an approved career-related internship, UNL study abroad program, graduate school anywhere in the country, or to initiate their own business.
During his Nebraska tenure, Zimmer has been selected as the Life Skills Administrator of-the-Year and a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Service. Zimmer is an honorary member of both Golden Key National Honor Society and Mortar board. Zimmer earned his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State College and master’s in education from Springfield College (Mass.). He and his wife Michelle, have two sons, Logan and Caden.