Peers Praise Billy Maxwell?s Hall-of-Fame Induction

Maxwell Selected to USTFCCCA Hall of Fame

Billy's Boys Gave Huskers NCAA Oomph

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Wherever Nebraska track and field assistant Billy Maxwell has coached and in whichever role he has played at Nebraska, Texas, LSU or Tennessee, those staffs share a constant reminder that defines Maxwell’s relentless search for excellence – Winning, spelled with a capital “W”.

Tuesday night at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, Maxwell will be one of six legendary coaches who will be inducted into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame at the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Convention. A record 1,400 coaches made reservations to attend the event,

Maxwell’s career dates back to state high school championships in the mid-1960s and includes pivotal roles in national championship-winning staffs as an assistant at Tennessee, a head coach at LSU, and important recruiting and coaching roles at perennial powers Texas and Nebraska, where he celebrates his 21st season as a Husker assistant.

One of His 28 NCAA Champions, Miles Ukaoma Calls Billy Maxwell ‘Awesome’

Overall, Maxwell has coached 28 NCAA Champions and more than 350 All-Americans. He began his collegiate coaching career in 1970 as a men’s assistant at Tennessee, where he coached 12 years. During Nebraska’s time in the Big 12, Maxwell-coached student-athletes claimed 25 conference titles, then added eight more since moving to the Big Ten Conference.

Maxwell’s most recent prized recruit was Miles Ukaoma (pictured above), the NCAA’s 2014 400-meter hurdle champion. The Maize, Kan., native credits Maxwell for helping him maximize his ability. “What’s so awesome about Billy is the way his athletes want to perform for him,” Ukaoma told me. “When you want to perform for your coach, you can do some amazing things. We all just love the guy because he’s so kind-hearted. He’s a really good motivator, not only in meets, but in practice every day. That’s what makes a big difference for him and other coaches – the way they can push you in practice and make you better.”

In 2008, Gary Pepin was inducted into the National Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Hall of Fame.

Gary Pepin: Head Track & Field Coach Calls Billy Maxwell Tireless, Motivated

“Billy has been a tireless worker and a highly motivated guy who has had success at a number of schools over a very long period of time,” Pepin said. “It’s always very rewarding to see him get some recognition from his peers for all the hard work that he’s put in. Billy has coached some great individual athletes and is well associated with coaches across the country. The coaches’ hall of fame is about the highest honor you can get individually, but Billy has always been more focused on team honors and winning conference championships and national championships.

“Everyone on our staff has a good relationship with each other. Some are certainly closer than others, but as a whole, it’s a close-knit group working on the same set of goals,” Pepin said. “Everybody wants the team to do well, and that’s the primary focus. Billy is a friend and a coworker, and our staff is very proud to be in San Antonio to support a coach who is so deserving of an award like this.

“Billy and I competed against each other for a long time before he came to Nebraska” Pepin pointed out. “We didn’t know each other well when we were battling to sign the same recruits. Then his boss at Tennessee became his boss at Texas and became good friends with my boss at Kansas. That’s when we got to know each other. We didn’t really connect though until we tried to hire Billy. Our most common bond is how important we see track and field. We have the same interest in our sport. We're about the same age and we share common interests. Both of us are still trying to learn and get better at what we’re trying to do. We’re working hard to have good teams and as hard as we can to win championships.”

Bob Burton, Senior Associate A.D., Sport Administrator, on His Greatest Gift

"Coach Maxwell is a nationally renowned sprints/hurdlers/relays coach. His greatest gift beyond teaching is the unbelievable ability to motivate student-athletes to believe that they can compete at the highest level of track and field. His undeniable love for his athletes is demonstrated not only on the track, but also in the classroom. His induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his love for the sport and a tribute to the everlasting relationships he’s fostered over his years as a coach."

Matt Martin, Sprint/Hurdles/Relay Coach: Roommate Made Big Impression

"I have enough great stories about the last 20 years to write a book about Billy Maxwell. But one of the best attributes he has imparted on me over the years is consistency. Regardless of the outcome of conference and national championships, Billy is always back to work ready for the next challenge. We roomed together on a lot of trips, and he always has the same routine of going to bed early and rising early the next day. No matter what was going on around us, he has always been the same. For a young coach, that made a big impression. Billy's also been a big influence on how I interact with all the different kinds of people that we come in contact with in our profession. Billy and Coach Pepin have a great ability to make a conversation flow when there's nothing to talk about. In doing that, they’re very good at showing people genuine interest. There’s no doubt that Billy Maxwell loves his athletes and they love him. That’s really all you need to know."

David Harris, Distance Coach: Billy Respected as a Recruiter and a Coach

“Billy Maxwell is one of the few predominately track and field assistant coaches who has been inducted into our National Hall of Fame. In fact, there are only a handful of assistants inducted. Most Hall-of-Famers have been head coaches. This honor speaks highly for the respect Billy has as a recruiter and sprint/hurdle coach in the profession.”

Da'Nelle Earl, Director of Operations: Billy Maxwell’s Passion is Undeniable

“Coach Maxwell’s passion for Track and Field is undeniable. He’s been coaching for decades and has worked his way up through the high school ranks to the highest level of NCAA competition. He has been a tremendous recruiter and has always loved his athletes. Coach Maxwell’s love is often 'tough' as he’s never been afraid to push his athletes on the track or in the classroom. Coach Maxwell’s commitment to all of his athletes leaving college with a degree is a testament to how much he believes in every athlete under his tutelage. His athletes have always loved him in return, and it’s these relationships that mean the most to him. Coach Maxwell’s induction into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame is a well-deserved honor and I feel truly privileged to have spent the last 10 years working with two Hall-of-Fame coaches.”

Scott Cappos, Throws Coach: Billy One of Nation's Most Respected Coaches

“Coach Maxwell is one of the most respected coaches in the country. He's the best at developing talent and maximizing performance. He's built long lasting relationships with his athletes and coaching peers. Coach Maxwell is a true Southern gentleman with colorful phrases. I’m still trying to figure out what 'a bird’s nest on the ground' means in the coaching world.”

Robert Harris, Recruiting Coordinator: If Billy Could Coach Forever, He Would

As Nebraska's on-campus recruiting coordinator, Harris is succinct but accurate. “Coach Maxwell’s undying passion for Track & Field makes him a hit with all his athletes and all of his co-workers," Harris told me. "If Billy could coach forever, I think he would!”

T.J. Pierce, Pole Vault, Combined Events: Billy is a Recruiting Juggernaut

"Coach Maxwell has had a long and storied career.  From coaching in high school to Division 1 – he has consistently proven to be a winner. "Coach Maxwell is tough. He's going to push his athletes to their limits – day in and day out. Because he loves every one of them, he pushes them every day because he wants, more than anything, for them to find their limits, push through them and reach higher levels of performance – on the track, in the classroom, and in life!

"His drive for greatness is relentless every day, all day long. Billy's a recruiting juggernaut. Just get out of his way and let him rumble on! If Billy Maxwell shouldn’t be in the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame, then I’m a Chinese Dragon!”

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