Stoops to Headline Nebraska Coaches Clinic

The 2011 Nebraska Football Spring Coaches Clinic will be highlighted by a visit from Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops. The Sooners' head coach will serve as the keynote speaker on the second day of the three-day event held in conjunction with Nebraska's spring practice.

The annual coaches' clinic is set for Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2 in Lincoln. Stoops will speak to the assembled coaches at 7 p.m. on Friday evening. The clinic will also feature Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini and his entire Nebraska coaching staff, as well as several accomplished prep coaches.

During his 12 seasons at Oklahoma, Stoops has guided the Sooners to the 2000 national championship and seven Big 12 titles. He has been named national coach of the year twice, while picking up Big 12 coach-of-the-year honors on four occasions. Stoops owns a 129-31 record at OU, winning at least 11 games nine times. Stoops is among a select group of coaches with a winning record against Nebraska. He has guided the Sooners to a 6-2 record against Nebraska.

Stoops and Pelini have a long history of connections. The two both attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, before both playing defensive back at Big Ten schools--Stoops at Iowa and Pelini at Ohio State. Pelini later worked on Stoops' Oklahoma staff as co-defensive coordinator for one season in 2004, and Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini also worked on the defensive staff with Stoops at Kansas State.

"It means a lot that Bob Stoops has agreed to take part in our clinic," Pelini said. "His track record speaks for itself. He's one of the best in the game, not only among current coaches, but when you look at the history of college football. This is a great opportunity for coaches throughout the area to get insight from Coach Stoops, as well as our coaching staff and a number of successful high school coaches. It should be a great weekend of learning and sharing ideas."

The 2011 Nebraska coaches' clinic will kick off on Thursday evening with breakout sessions by members of the Nebraska coaching staff. Session I will focus on the Husker defense at 6:30 p.m., followed by a breakout session with the offensive staff at 8 p.m. Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini will begin Friday's activities with a welcome at 10 a.m., and those in attendance will also hear from Nebraska Football Strength and Conditioning Coach James Dobson on Friday morning.

Other speakers at the coaches clinic include four 2010 Nebraska state championship coaches-Millard North's Fred Petito (Class A), Chuck McGinnis of Crete (Class B), Norfolk Catholic's Jeff Bellar (Class C-1) and Dave Ridder of West Point CC (Class D-1).

In addition to the championship Nebraska prep coaches on the agenda, two successful out-of-state head coaches will share their insight at the clinic. Pat Mahoney of DeSmet High School in St. Louis will speak on Friday afternoon, and Tom Wilson of West Des Moines Dowling High will speak on Saturday morning. Wilson guided Dowling to the Iowa Class 4-A state title in 2010.

In addition to Stoops and other speakers on Friday, the clinic will also include Nebraska's spring practice at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday's activities begin with an FCA Breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by position drills from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The clinic will conclude with Nebraska's Saturday practice, scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.

All sessions of the clinic will be held in the Hawks Championship Center or Memorial Stadium. Cost of the clinic is $55 per coach before Friday, March 25, or $65 after March 25 or at the door. For complete information and registration forms, visit Huskers.com or call the Nebraska Football Office at 402-472-3116.

Checks may be made payable to the Big Red Football School and sent to Nebraska Football Coaches Clinic, University of Nebraska, One Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588-0125.