Paul Klempa

Honors and Awards

• 2021 NCAA Championship Head Coach
• 2021 Bill Straub NTCA Division I Coach of the Year
• 17 Tournament Titles as Head Coach
•  Assistant Coach for Seven National Titles (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015)
• 55 bowlers have made a combined 111 NTCA All-Academic teams
• 42 bowlers have made a combined 83 NTCA All-America teams
• 17 bowlers have been selected to national teams

Paul Klempa begins his seventh season leading the Husker bowling program in 2025-26, as he was tabbed to replace legendary coach Bill Straub on Sept. 3, 2019.

Klempa, who has been a part of the Husker program since it was elevated to varsity status in 1997, has been instrumental in building Nebraska bowling into a dynasty over the past three decades. Since becoming an NCAA sport in 2004, the Huskers have won a nation-leading six national titles and finished runner-up on four more occasions.  Klempa spent 22 seasons as an assistant, serving a majority of the 2013-14 season as NU’s interim head coach, before taking over prior to the 2019-20 season. 

Klempa has put his own stamp on the program over the last six seasons, coaching a trio of NTCA Bowlers of the Year and 14 All-American. NU has earned a trio of top-three NCAA finishes and guided the Huskers to their national-best sixth NCAA title in 2021. 

 

In 2024-25, the Huskers won three regular-season titles and returned to the NCAA Championships by winning the Pittsburgh Regional before finishing third at nationals. Junior Jillian Martin became the third Husker under Klempa to win NTCA Bowler-of-the-Year honors, while Kayla Verstraete, Anna Callan and Kayla Starr all earned All-America honors.  Nebraska continued its streak of being the only team in the nation to qualify for postseason appearances since the addition of women’s bowling to the NCAA in 2004.

 

Despite the 2023-24 season holding no tournament titles, the team demonstrated 

Nebraska’s reputation as a powerhouse program, earning double runner-up finishes, as well as a pair of third-place finishes. The team ended the season with an 85-41 record. 

 

In 2022, the Huskers put together a dominant regular season and qualified for the NCAA Championships as the No. 2 overall seed. NU won five tournaments on the year and placed in the top three teams in eight of nine events. Sophomore Kayla Verstraete earned second-team NTCA All-America honors, while Cassidy Ray and Kendyl Hofmeister both earned honorable-mention accolades. Ray, a three-time All-American, was lauded for her efforts in the community as one of three Heart and Soul winners at the annual Night at the Lied 

event. 

 

The 2021 season continued the Huskers’ success under Klempa, as the program won its sixth NCAA title and first since 2015.  Crystal Elliot was named NCAA Tournament MVP and NTCA Player of the Year, as she ranked in the top three nationally in traditional average and baker frame average. Verstraete and Ray also earned All-America honors, while NU posted top-five finishes in all six tournaments. Klempa was named the NTCA National Coach of the Year for his efforts.

 

While Klempa’s first season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huskers finished the season ranked third nationally, while Raquel Orozco was named NTCA Division I Bowler of the Year and was selected as Nebraska’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year.  

 

Klempa’s association with the Nebraska bowling program dates back to 1992. After a collegiate career in which he earned All-America honors as a senior in 1994, Klempa remained in Lincoln and was hired as the Huskers assistant coach in 1997 - the first season bowling became a varsity sport at Nebraska.

 

During his tenure at Nebraska, Klempa has helped guide the Huskers to eight national championships - including back-to-back NCAA titles in 2004 and 2005, and NCAA championships in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2021. In the 20 years that the NCAA has sponsored bowling, Nebraska is the only program to have qualified for the NCAA Championship in every season. He has tutored nine National Collegiate Bowlers of the Year, 35 bowlers who have combined for 74 NTCA All-America awards and 17 student-athletes who went on to represent various national teams.

 

A native of Johnstown, N.Y., Klempa graduated from Nebraska in 1994 with a degree in psychology. He owns several 300 games and 800 series in his decorated career, has represented Nebraska in the U.S. Open and is also a State Match Game champion. Klempa and his wife, Leanna, reside in Lincoln and have two sons, Jake and Carter.