Huskers hire Washington AD Troy Dannen in a huge win for Nebraska football

Originally posted on Husker Big Red | By Chris Peterson | Last updated 3/20/24

Maybe Nebraska should make Chris Kabourek the full-time president because he just handled the search for a new athletic director like a boss, setting up Nebraska football and all of the other programs for success long-term.

The new Nebraska athletic director, according to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, is Troy Dannen of Washington. The athletic director of the Huskies wasn’t on the job long. He was hired last fall, in October, and recently hired a new football coach for the Huskers after Kalen DeBoer departed for Washington.

Here’s our ⁦@espn⁩ story on Nebraska finalizing a six-year deal to make Washington’s Troy Dannen the school’s next athletic director. He brings Big Ten ties, Midwest chops and hired Willie Fritz to spark Tulane’s football revival. https://t.co/aS2sAaB1Ns

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 20, 2024

A great move for the Huskers, especially Nebraska football

Hiring Dannen is a huge win for the Huskers. It’s also a big win for the Nebraska football program. Not only did the Huskers steal the athletic director from another Big Ten program, but Dannen will have intimate knowledge of the new Big Ten from his role with the Huskies joining the conference. He’s not going to have to play catch-up on anything.

Before Dannen went to Washington in October, he was the athletic director at Tulane dating back to 2015 when he hired Willie Fritz. Dannen worked in the American Athletic Conference and also got to know Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule according to ESPN.

“He’s an Iowa guy who understands the values of Nebraska,” A source told ESPN. “He’s also a sitting athletic director who understands the Big Ten and doesn’t need to get caught up in the Big Ten.”

Dannen has been on the Football Oversight Committee and the source also noted to ESPN that “He’s a power player in college athletics.”

Matt Rhule expressed his belief in Nebraska football after Trev Alberts left with his “God made a farmer” video and reiterated that at his press conference this week. This hire demonstrates why he believes in Nebraska and the panic we all experienced last week was for not.

The Huskers are in better hands than ever. Now, it’s time for Rhule and the Nebraska football program to get back to winning. Dannen is a hire that can help him do that.

This article first appeared on Husker Big Red and was syndicated with permission.

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