Coaches Contracts Issued

Lincoln  -- With the conclusion of the regular season for all sports, University of Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson, Executive Associate Athletic Director Marc Boehm and Senior Associate Athletic Director Bob Burton have completed their performance reviews of Nebraska's head coaches and have issued extended contracts.

With two exceptions, each of Nebraska's head varsity coaches are now under new contracts that extend to June 2006 or June 2008. The two exceptions are head football coach Bill Callahan, who signed a six-year contract in January that extends through 2010, and Jay Dirksen, the head cross country coach and assistant head coach. Dirksen reports to head track and field coach Gary Pepin and is not under contract.

"I have really enjoyed getting to know our coaches and their staffs over the past year," Pederson said. "I believe that we are on the right track with our overall athletic program. I thought it was important that we standardize the contracts of our coaches and offer them longer term contracts. At Nebraska we continually try to reach the perfect balance of success in the classroom and success on the field of play. These coaches have been very successful in achieving this balance and that is why we are pleased to make this commitment to them."

Until Pederson issued new contracts to the coaches this summer, a few of the coaches contracts had expired, while a few of the others had obsolete wording that needed to be adjusted. The contracts are still varied in terms of salaries and bonus parameters, however, all have been brought up-to-date and are more consistent with contracts of collegiate coaches across the country.

The Huskers boast a graduation rate of 91 percent among student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility at Nebraska. And while the new contracts do not specifically reward academic achievement, Pederson said each and everyone of the 19 head coaches believe in the doing things the right way -- The Nebraska Way.

Coaches under contract through June 2008, include (alphabetically) Mike Anderson, baseball; Barry Collier, men's basketball; John Cook, volleyball; Dan Kendig, women's gymnastics; Mark Manning, wrestling; Pablo Morales, women's swimming and diving; Gary Pepin, men's and women's track and field; Rhonda Revelle, softball; Bill Straub, women's bowling; John Walker, women's soccer; and Connie Yori, women's basketball.

Husker coaches who recently signed new two-year contracts, which extend through June 2006, include Francis Allen, men's gymnastics; Scott Jacobson, women's tennis; Robin Krapfl, women's golf; Kerry McDermott, men's tennis; Launi Meili, women's rifle; and Bill Spangler, men's golf.

Each contract was prepared and carefully reviewed by the University of Nebraska General Counsel before it was issued to the coaches to sign.