Mendenhall Named Associate Director of Development

Lincoln -- Effective immediately, Diane Mendenhall is moving from the Coliseum to South Stadium as she has accepted the position of Associate Director of Athletic Development. Previously, Mendenhall served for four years as the Director of Volleyball Operations for the Huskers. Nebraska was just the fourth school nationally to create a director of volleyball operations position, following Wisconsin, Arizona State and Iowa State. Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook will refill the position after the first of the year.

Mendenhall will take a major role in assisting with fund-raising for the new Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex, and will oversee the athletic department Endowment and Scholarships Program. She will also assist with major gifts and planned giving, reporting to Assistant Athletic Director for Development Paul Meyers.

"We are excited to have Diane join our development team," Meyers said. "Diane is a highly motivated individual whose organization and communication skills will make an immediate impact in everything we do."

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Paul and the entire development staff," Mendenhall said. "Working within the day-to-day operations of a sport as I have for the past four years, you realize the integral role Athletic Development plays in the success of each and every program in the department through fund-raising and facility enhancement. I look forward to my new opportunity in the development office and to spending more time with Husker fans, who have played such an important part in the tradition and tremendous success of the Nebraska Athletic Department."

As Director of Volleyball Operations, Mendenhall handled a variety of duties for the Huskers, including team travel, budgeting, coordinating tournaments and camps, assisting visiting teams, community relations, and supervising office staff and managers. She also served as a liaison for volleyball support units, including facilities and events, sports information, marketing, compliance, HuskerVision, the NU Ticket Office, alumni, the Big 12, the NCAA and The Match Club. For the past three seasons, Mendenhall has partnered with John Baylor as a color analyst for the Pinnacle Sports Productions radio broadcasts of Husker volleyball.

"Diane came in and took the volleyball operations director position above and beyond anything we ever thought it would be," Coach John Cook said. "She has been instrumental in our success over the past four years, and she will be greatly missed. I think the development office is very fortunate to have Diane and her many talents."

A native of Ogallala, Neb., Mendenhall served as the head volleyball coach at Concordia University in Seward, Neb., from 1996 to 1999, guiding the school to 89 wins in four seasons. She also worked as a national consultant for Curtis & Associates, Inc., from 1992 to 1997, where she conducted training sessions on motivation and philosophy throughout the country. Mendenhall was the first consultant to speak internationally for the company.

Mendenhall, a graduate of the University of Kansas, started as a freshman for the Jayhawk volleyball team and was captain of the team her senior year. Following her collegiate career, she spent nine years as a fitness club athletic director and personal fitness trainer in Colorado. She served as head volleyball coach at Golden High School in Golden, Colo., from 1985 to 1986, where she led the team to their first state tournament appearance and was named the Jefferson County League Coach of the year.

A graduate of Ogallala High School, Mendenhall led the Indians to three straight state tournament appearances, including the 1975 state championship. She was a Nebraska super-state selection in 1975 and 1976. Diane and her husband, Rich, have one daughter Ally, 16.