The University of Nebraska Athletic Department announced Friday that long-time Husker bowling coach Bill Straub is the recipient of the 2020-21 Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award. Straub was presented with the award by Athletic Director Bill Moos at the Big Red Invitational on Friday afternoon in Lincoln.
The Trailblazer Award was first given in 2000 to honor outstanding support and generous contributions to women's athletics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2007, following Dr. Hibner's death, the prestigious award was renamed the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award in honor of the longtime member of the Nebraska Athletic Department and the inaugural recipient of the award.
Before his retirement in August of 2019, Straub was the only head coach in the history of the Nebraska women's bowling program after it was added as a varsity sport in 1997. Straub also served as the head coach of the Nebraska's women's club program beginning in 1983.
"Bill Straub is a very fitting and deserving recipient of the Trailblazer Award," Moos said. "Nebraska has long been a leader in opportunities in women's athletics and Coach Straub has played a significant role in that regard. Bill built our women's bowling program from the ground up before it was a varsity sport, and was the only coach in the history of our program before his retirement. Bill is a true Husker, and we are proud to honor him with this prestigious award."
Straub guided the Nebraska women's program to 10 overall national championships, including seven since becoming a varsity sport. Straub's 2004 Husker team won the national championship in the first year a bowling competition was held at the NCAA level.
In his final season in 2018-19, Nebraska reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championships, marking the 11th straight season Nebraska reached the semifinals. In the 16 years the NCAA has sponsored bowling, Nebraska is the only program to have qualified for the NCAA Championship every season.
Straub was a three-time recipient of the NTCA Coach of the Year Award, capturing the honor in 2005, 2013 and 2017. He has coached seven bowlers who combined for a total of nine NTCA Collegiate Player-of-the-Year awards, including three-time winner Shannon Pluhowsky (2001, 2004, 2005).
Overall, Straub coached 57 All-Americans and 77 NTCA Scholastic All-Americans since the program rose to the varsity level in 1997. When including the Husker Bowling Club those numbers rise to 89 All-Americans and a total of 106 scholastic All-Americans.
Straub Coaching Highlights
- Five NCAA Women's Team Championships (2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015)
- Five IBC Women's National Championships (1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
- 2 IBC Men's National Championships (1990, 1996)
- Three NTCA Coach of the Year Awards (2005, 2013, 2017)
- Nine NTCA Collegiate Bowlers of the Year
- Four NTCA Collegiate Rookies of the Year
- 57 All-Americans
- 77 NTCA Scholastic All-Americans
- 14 Bowlers selected to national teams
- Nebraska Bowling Hall of Fame Inductee
- Omaha Bowling Hall of Fame Inductee
- Lincoln Bowling Hall of Fame Inductee
Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award
The Trailblazer Award, re-named the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award in 2007, is presented to an individual; family, or business, "in recognition of outstanding support and generous contributions to Nebraska women's athletics."
Past Recipients
2000-01---Barbara Hibner, Former Nebraska Associate Athletic Director and
Senior Women's Administrator
2001-02—Dana and Melanie Raimondi
2002-03—Ms. Ione Bowlin
2003-04—Betty Geis in honor of Julie Geis, former softball player killed in 9-11 terrorist attack
2004-05—Carol Frost, former Nebraska Track & Field Coach/Student-Athlete/Olympian
2005-06—Pinnacle Sports Radio Productions
2006-07—Dr. Joann Owens-Nausler
2007-08—Rhonda Revelle, Nebraska Softball Coach
2008-09—Steve Rohman
2009-10—Terry Pettit, former Nebraska Volleyball Coach
2010-11—Tom and Mary Hendricks
2011-12—Dick Herman
2012-13—JoAnn Martin and Ameritas
2013-14—Linda Olson
2014-15—Sid and Hazel Dillon
2015-16—Bill and Ruth Scott
2016-17—Gary and Janet Latimer
2017-18—Marian Andersen
2018-19—Larry and Sheryl Snyder
2019-20—Jo Potuto
2020-21—Bill Straub